Is Jose Mourinho a great manager?

[FearlessRoar]

'Won my Premier League trophies fairly': Mourinho hits back at Guardiola​

Jose Mourinho said the Premier League trophies he won at Chelsea were achieved fairly, responding to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's comments that he had six English top-flight titles while the Portuguese coach only had three.

Guardiola, whose team lost 2-0 at Liverpool on Sunday, held up six fingers to home fans to indicate the number of league titles he won in response to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning."

Mourinho, while managing Manchester United, had similarly held up three fingers to opposing fans during an underwhelming league campaign, before being sacked in December 2018 after a loss to Liverpool.

Guardiola was asked at a press conference whether he could face a fate similar to Mourinho.

"I hope not in my case... he won three, I won six.. but we are the same like that," Guardiola answered.

In his response to the Spaniard, Mourinho alluded to City's charges over alleged violations of the Premier League's financial rules ranging from 2009 to 2018, which the club has always denied.

"Guardiola said something about me... he won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly," Turkish outlet Hurriyet quoted Mourinho as saying on Friday, ahead of his team Fenerbahce's clash with Besiktas.

"If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent because he was better than me. I don't want to win by dealing with 150 court cases."

City did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mourinho's statement.

Mourinho has taken shots at City before, saying he was hoping he could add a fourth Premier League medal to his cabinet if City are stripped of their titles and United, who finished second in 2017-18, are awarded the Premier League trophy.

https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/won-my-premier-league-trophies-fairly-mourinho-hits-back-guardiola-2024-12-06/?taid=6752eaceb71f28000107f045&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

 

[BouncerGuy]

'Calm down, it's not over', Mourinho warns Rangers

If only Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce players had delivered a performance as accomplished as the one he offered up.

After watching his side burgled in their own home by an increasingly familiar Rangers away Europa League display, the Portuguese landed far more blows on the visitors than his team had managed.

Rangers should "calm down". The tie is "not over". Fenerbahce were "bad everywhere". They made "incredible, incredible mistakes".

The Scottish Premiership side were "as pragmatic as I was expecting". They defended "basically well" and wasted time with "20 injuries". Goalkeeper Jack Butland "took 30 seconds every time he had the ball in his hands".

But despite that, Mourinho said, this 3-1 loss in Istanbul was "a good result" because the defeat "could have been bigger".

He was referring to the fact Rangers had two Cyriel Dessers goals ruled out for offside after VAR reviews as the hosts struggled to quell their threat on the break.

Ultimately, Barry Ferguson's side had to settle for a Vaclav Cerny double to add to Dessers' early opener.

But, despite their domestic troubles, they are still well placed to set up a last-eight tie with either Roma or Athletic Bilbao. Not that Mourinho agrees, of course.

"For me, I have to say that we deserved a punishment of this result," he said. "But if someone wants to ask me if it's over, no, I don't think it's over.

"The only thing I tell this is don't celebrate too much, because there is a second match to play, that's my only advice.

"If they celebrate after the second match I will congratulate them but now calm down because it's not over."

'We'll enjoy tonight then try to fix Ibrox problem'

Rangers interim head coach Ferguson agreed, albeit his words carried a little less flourish than those of his feted counterpart.

Little wonder. This was a man in just his third game as Rangers manager and with only some underwhelming stints in the Scottish third and fourth tiers to call upon.

He might have won his first match after replacing Philippe Clement - his side coming from two down at Kilmarnock just eight days ago - but that was followed by an abject home defeat on Saturday at the hands of struggling Motherwell.

However, Ferguson and his coaching team watched their selection decisions pay off, with the move to a back three not only making them more robust but also giving them options on the break.

"I just thought I had to change the shape and it was a gamble I was prepared to take because I thought we could get a result," the former club captain said.

"It's easy, when you score a couple of goals and they get disallowed, to start feeling sorry for yourself. But they kept going and stuck to the game plan.

"We've got to remember, it's only half-time in the tie because Fenerbahce have got one of the best managers that's ever been.

"There's no way we think we're into the last eight. Playing at Ibrox has been a bit of a problem, but we'll enjoy tonight and then try to fix that problem."

What they said

Double goalscorer Vaclav Cerny: "We said what we want and how we want to get it. We did our job. You see the power we have when we stick together."

Opening scorer Cyriel Dessers: "This is a very good feeling. It was a beautiful night but we're well aware we're only halfway there. We have to enjoy this evening. To come to a difficult place against a good team and win should give us confidence."

Former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield on Sportsound: "Everybody looks down on Scottish football and clubs and players that play in Scotland but it's proven time and time again that this club rises to the occasion in Europe.

"You just come to expect it on a Thursday night... I said they just have to stay in the tie, but they've done more than that. They are in the driving seat now."

Former Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst on TNT Sports: "Perfect, perfect performance. Really proud of the team, really proud of Barry and his staff."

Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton on TNT Sports: "They always had that threat. Barry Ferguson surprised a lot of people with that formation but it worked an absolute treat."

Former Rangers striker Ally McCoist on TNT Sports: "Wee Barry should be and he will be extremely proud of those boys."

BBC Scotland chief sports writer Tom English: "When this Rangers team are asked to break down a defence, they struggle. When it's a toe-to-toe encounter and there's space and a freedom to counter, they're a completely different animal."

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Mourinho accused of 'physically attacking' Galatasaray boss

Galatasaray have accused Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of "physically attacking" their manager Okan Buruk after he appeared to grab his nose following a fiery derby in the Turkish Cup.

The incident occurred after the final whistle at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, when both managers were interacting with the match officials in the centre circle.

Mourinho approached Buruk from behind and appeared to pinch his nose, causing the Galatasaray manager to fall to the floor with his hands covering his face.

"Our manager Okan and Mourinho congratulated the referees. After that, while Okan was continuing, Mourinho first verbally and then physically attacked him," Galatasaray's vice-president Metin Ozturk said.

"Where else in the world can he do this? What does he think of Turkey?

"I believe that Fenerbahce's management will impose the necessary sanction before the federation does."

Galatasaray won the Turkish Cup quarter-final tie 2-1 with Victor Osimhen scoring twice for the visitors.

BBC Sport has contacted Fenerbahce for a response.

Buruk, who enjoyed two spells at Galatasaray as a player before returning as manager in 2022, played down the incident at his post-match news conference.

"There was nothing between me and Mourinho," Buruk said.

"He pinched my nose from behind. There was a slight scratch. Of course, it wasn't a very nice or elegant thing to do.

"We expect managers to behave more appropriately in such situations. I won't exaggerate this issue, but it wasn't a classy move."

Fenerbahce substitute Mert Yandas and Galatasaray substitutes Kerem Demirbay and Baris Yilmaz were shown red cards for their part in a melee between the two benches during stoppage time.

Following a goalless draw between the two clubs in the Turkish Super Lig in February, Galatasaray said they would "initiate criminal proceedings" against Mourinho after claiming he made "racist statements".

The Turkish Football Federation also handed Mourinho a four-game ban and a fine of £35,194 for two separate disciplinary matters.

Mourinho responded by launching a lawsuit against Galatasaray "due to the attack on the personal rights" of the Portuguese.

Jose Mourinho: Fenerbahce manager accused of grabbing nose of Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk

Galatasaray accuse Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of "physically attacking" their manager Okan Buruk after appearing to grab his nose.

www.bbc.com

 

[hassan918]

Galatasaray boss 'acted like he'd been shot' in Mourinho row​

Fenerbahce have accused Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk of acting "as if he had been shot" after a confrontation with their manager Jose Mourinho on Wednesday night.

In a strongly-worded statement, Fenerbahce accused Buruk of having the "audacity to make disrespectful hand gestures" to provoke Mourinho, who then "briefly touched his nose" in response.

The Turkish Cup match, which Galatasaray won 2-1, came amid increased animosity between the two clubs.

Following the match Galatasaray accused Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of "physically attacking" their manager Buruk after he appeared to grab his nose following the fiery derby match.

The incident occurred after the final whistle at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, when both managers were interacting with the match officials in the centre circle.

"This was a planned provocation [by Buruk] and as part of this plan the individual acted as if he had been 'shot' and fell to the ground in a professional manner, and his disrespectful words and actions are documented on video," Fenerbahce said in a statement.

"The absurdity of someone who is touched on the nose immediately throwing himself to the ground and writhing for seconds is clear to the public.

"It is evident that this individual's tendency to fall to the ground, seen during his playing days, continues in his coaching career, showing that this behaviour is a characteristic attitude."

Buruk sought to play the incident down at his post-match news conference, saying there was "nothing" between him and Mourinho.

But Galatasaray inflamed the situation further by posting a video on X mocking Mourinho in the style of US comedy South Park.

Fenerbahce substitute Mert Yandas and Galatasaray substitutes Kerem Demirbay and Baris Yilmaz were shown red cards for their part in a melee between the two benches during stoppage time.

Fenerbahce accuse Galatasaray boss of acting 'like he'd been shot' in Jose Mourinho row

Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk "acted as if he had been shot" as part of a "planned provocation" of Jose Mourinho following their confrontation during a Turkish Cup match, according to Fenerbahce.

www.bbc.com