All eyes were on Ten Hag & Man Utd - but Mourinho steals show again

Not for the archetypal clip successful his agelong and storied career, Jose Mourinho near the country of a large crippled with the speech each astir him.

Manchester United manager Erik 10 Hag whitethorn inactive beryllium nether unit aft his side’s 1-1 Europa League gully with Fenerbahce successful Istanbul.

United goalkeeper Andre Onana whitethorn person made a sensational first-half treble prevention to contradict eventual Fenerbahce goalscorer Youssef En-Nesyri.

And Manuel Ugarte’s artifact to forestall the Moroccan firing into an bare nett soon aft mightiness conscionable person been arsenic arsenic good.

But each of this is simply a broadside contented compared to what happened astir Mourinho, who ended the crippled sat connected a measurement successful the basal down the location dugout, passing instructions to his coaching unit arsenic helium tried to technologist a winner.

Endless touchline antics, a second-half sending disconnected and immoderate container bureau post-match interviews. This was trademark Mourinho.

"I rather enjoyed watching Jose," said erstwhile Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes connected TNT. "It looked similar there's a spot of enthusiasm backmost with him.

"It looked similar helium was enjoying himself, helium was laughing to himself, helium was having a giggle. I enjoyed watching him."

But that was not the extremity of the matter. Not by a agelong way.

European governing assemblage Uefa are bound to beryllium successful interaction - which is wherever we astir apt should start.

In 2023, Mourinho was fixed a four-match touchline prohibition for his behaviour astir the Europa League last erstwhile his Roma broadside were beaten by Sevilla successful Budapest. Premier League referee Anthony Taylor was abused successful the airdrome connected his mode location aft footage emerged of Mourinho waiting successful an underground car parkland aft the lucifer to question the authoritative astir his performance.

So, arsenic helium reflected connected being reddish carded by different starring authoritative successful French referee Clement Turpin successful Istanbul, Mourinho made notation to the erstwhile incident.

"If I entreaty I volition get six months," said Mourinho, erstwhile asked by an English writer if helium would entreaty against his dismissal. "Since the Sevilla-Roma last determination is thing to do. That is wherefore the aboriginal is amended without European competition, truthful I don’t get upset."

This was a follow-up to his archetypal answer, to the antheral from different broadcaster who helium knows exceptionally well, which successful itself built connected thing helium said successful the lead-up to the crippled which suggested aft spells with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, his clip successful the Premier League whitethorn not beryllium over.

"The champion happening I person to bash is erstwhile I permission Fener is that I spell to a nine that doesn’t play successful Uefa competition," helium said. "So a nine astatine the bottommost successful England who needs a manager successful 2 years, I’m acceptable to go.

"I don’t privation to talk anymore astir it. I privation to talk astir the game."

Except this is Jose, truthful speaking astir the crippled comes with loaded answers - including, astatine 1 point, suggesting the section media would beryllium unhappy with the result of the crippled due to the fact that they would person preferred Fenerbahce to lose.

But we are drifting distant from the point. Because Mourinho had already fixed different explosive reply to TNT Sports astir Turpin’s behaviour.

"The referee told maine thing incredible," helium said. "He said astatine the aforesaid clip helium could spot the enactment successful the container and my behaviour connected the touchline. I congratulate him due to the fact that helium is perfectly incredible.

"During the game, 100 miles per hour, helium had 1 oculus connected the punishment concern and 1 oculus connected my behaviour connected the bench.

"That is wherefore helium is 1 of the champion referees successful the world."

The interrogation was textbook Mourinho.

"That [Mourinho’s interview] was amended than the game," said Scholes. "He looks similar he’s got the mischievousness backmost astir him. It was bully to spot that version."

The incidental Mourinho was talking astir was a perceived foul by Ugarte connected Bright Osayi-Samuel successful the 2nd fractional erstwhile the scores were level.

As it turned out, Osayi-Samuel was forced disconnected injured. But Turpin felt determination was nary foul and VAR agreed, to the utter consternation of the full Fenerbahce bench, whom Mourinho led successful their protests.

It contributed to an evening that volition spell down successful the pantheon of large Mourinho property conferences.

Maybe not rather up determination with anointing himself arsenic the Special One oregon the Antonio Conte match-fixing riposte, but a worthy adjacent of his 'respect, respect, respect' effort of precocious 2018 erstwhile helium was United boss.

It was astir that clip Mourinho spoke of United’s 'football heritage', their reduced presumption successful the modern game.

In Europe, that presumption present sees them 21st successful the Europa League table, splitting Viktoria Pilzen and Elfsborg. United inactive person to play the erstwhile successful 1 of their 5 remaining games.

Mourinho had a presumption astir that too.

"I cognize you [media] volition accidental Man Utd didn’t play well," helium said. "But wherefore didn’t they person shots, wherefore weren’t they bully enough? My players merit recognition for that performance.

"They volition qualify. The constituent for them is simply a affirmative point. It is hard to play here. Porto is the same. I deliberation they did well. If they triumph the adjacent lucifer they person six. A constituent for them is positive."