Jose Mourinho has hit back at his critics after his mixed start at Fenerbahce by pointing to his formidable trophies record and making a tongue-in-cheek apology for failing to win silverware just a month into the new season.
Mourinho, 61, was appointed in June on a two-year deal in his first role since leaving Roma after two-and-a-half years at the helm of Serie A.
But he has failed to make a flying start with his already five-point lead over Galatasaray in the Super Lig following a 3-1 defeat to the same club this month. Mourinho refused to attend the post-match press conference, citing ‘disrespect’.
Fenerbahce also crashed out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round after a back-to-back loss to Lille, which saw them relegated to the Europa League.
However, when the Special One was questioned about his early struggles in Turkey, he launched a fervent defense of his record and pointed to what he called the ‘Mourinho effect’.
Jose Mourinho has hit back at his critics after his shaky start at Fenerbahce
The Special One pointed to his trophy record with a tongue-in-cheek jab at doubters
‘What is called the Mourinho effect? Trophies. Cups,” he told reporters. ‘We can’t win trophies in September. There are no trophies to be won in September.
‘How do you see the effect? I have won cups in every club I have been to. Only Tottenham, I left the club two days before a cup final. But at every club the effect was titles.
“I can’t win titles in September, I’m sorry.”
It didn’t take long for Mourinho to show signs of anxiety over the Turkish media’s approach. Furious after the loss to Galatasaray, he blamed his rival Okan Buruk for the reason he shirked his media duties after the match.
After refusing to appear at the post-match press conference, he criticized his co-star for taking too long with his own interviews.
Mourinho even claimed he should have waited more than 70 minutes.
Galatasaray defeated Mourinho’s side to move five points clear at the top of the Super Lig
Mourinho was not present at the post-match press conference and said he was disrespected
‘In my 24-year career I have never avoided a press conference. I have never been afraid of journalists and their questions,” Mourinho moaned.
‘The coach who plays away goes first, that’s normal, to be free. But there are limits! I waited for 70 minutes and even after that I couldn’t go because his press conference was going on. I can’t wait 70, 75 or 80 minutes for a press conference.
‘It had nothing to do with the result, just with something that may or may not be right.
“The same thing will happen in the next game. I’ll go to the flash interview right after the game because that’s the logic of flash interviews.”
He then added: ‘It’s not 20 minutes after the game, it’s right after.
‘Then you wait fifteen minutes, half an hour is normal. 70 minutes? Sorry, but that’s disrespectful! If anyone felt disrespected, it was me.”
Galatasaray mocked him on social media as ‘The Crying One’ shortly after the match
Mourinho stormed away from a reporter after being shown the photo in the mixed zone
Mourinho, who has won numerous trophies during his glittering career including two Champions League titles and several league titles, was brutally mocked by Galatasaray on social media as ‘The Crying One’ shortly after the match.
When a reporter in the mixed zone showed the image, an unimpressed Mourinho shot back by asking: ‘Who are you?’. Then he said, ‘Are you serious? Are you kidding?’
Mourinho then walked away as the reporter tried to press him for a response.
