Jose Mourinho has spoken for the primary time, completely to Sky Sports activities Information, in regards to the racism allegation made towards him.
Regardless of the furore, he says he felt calm and relaxed all through as a result of he feels the allegation, made by Galatasaray after the Istanbul derby along with his Fenerbahce facet, backfired.
“They were not clever in the way they attacked me, because they didn’t know my past,” he says.
“They didn’t know my connections with Africa, with African people and African players and African charities.
“So as an alternative of going towards me, I believe it boomeranged and went towards them.
“Everybody is aware of who I’m as an individual. All people is aware of my dangerous qualities, however that isn’t one in every of my dangerous qualities. Precisely the alternative!
“The most important thing is I know who I am, and the attack accusing racism was a bad choice.”
On the accusation, he says: “I just felt: how could they go so low?”
Mourinho, within the press convention after the 0-0 draw final Monday, accused the Galatasaray bench of “jumping like monkeys” to try to get his 19-year-old central defender Yusuf Akcicek despatched off early within the recreation.
He was referring to move coach Okan Buruk.
I ask whether or not, in hindsight, Mourinho regrets the phrases he used. Was the selection of phrases clumsy?
Mourinho paused for a second and thought. Then he shook his head, as a result of he discovered Buruk’s touchline antics onerous to take.
“I cannot drop to his level,” he says.
“Sometimes I do, and I ask myself, ‘Why did you do it Jose? Why did you drop to that level?'”
He thinks a bit extra. Then provides: “It was just sad.”
He’s grateful for the assist he has had from individuals he is aware of, and other people he doesn’t.
“Probably even from people who don’t like me the support was there,” he says.
“I thank the people who didn’t have a problem to speak [out], especially my boys, my former players. They were a very important voice.”
He means after all Chelsea title winners Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, who went onto social media to assist their former supervisor.
Because of this some Galatasaray followers took to the streets to burn Drogba shirts. He performed 53 occasions for the membership.
With regards to shirts, Mourinho has a view on why his four-match ban was diminished, so shortly, to 2 matches.
Social media performed its half.
“On the day my [four-match] ban was decided it comes to public eyes that the chief of the disciplinary committee is celebrating among friends with a Galatasaray shirt on,” he says.
“Only here you can understand the dimension of it.”
Sky Sports activities Information has contacted the Turkish Soccer Federation for remark.
So Mourinho’s home ban is served. He can return to the home dugout.
He was at all times going to be within the technical space in Europe.
If Fenerbahce progress from the Europa League final 16 by beating Rangers, it might flip right into a Jose Mourinho revenge tour.
Roma within the quarter-finals, possibly. Manchester United within the semi-finals, possibly. Spurs within the remaining, possibly.
Mourinho, although, just isn’t considering that means.
“In my mind I never feel about revenge. I never have that feeling because when I leave a club, I prefer to remember my good times at the club,” he provides.
A type of golf equipment is Manchester United after all.
So what does Mourinho make of the goings on at Previous Trafford?
On Ruben Amorim, who he helped tutor as a younger coach, he says they haven’t spoken since he took the United job, aside from Christmas greetings.
However he’s not having fun with watching him battle.
“He’s a good kid. Always very respectful to me. We had a good relationship for a few years. He knows I wish him well.”
And on Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and people job losses?
“To be honest I don’t know much about what’s happening,” he says.
“I know Sir Jim Ratcliffe. I’m not saying we are big friends but we have a good relationship. I know him well. He invited me to his house a couple of times. I see him as a good person and a great businessman.
“In fact, I really feel for a number of the those that I do know [losing their jobs], however hopefully it goes in the proper course.”