Jose Mourinho defended himself as the “opposite” of a racist who made the series about comments according to the Istanbul derby.
Mourinho received a domestic four-game ban, which was then halved, 0-0 draw with Galatasaray last month due to comments to Fenerbahces.
The former chief of Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter and Manchester United said that the Galatasaray bank had jumped “like monkeys” to delegate defender Yusuf Akcicek.
When Mourinho spoke to Rangers in front of Fenerbahce’s Europa League League Last-16 Autschieden, he expressed his view that the allegations of racism from Galatasaray went back.
“They weren’t smart in the way they attacked me because they didn’t know my past,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“They did not know my connections to Africa to African people, African players and African charity organizations.
“So instead of going against me, I think that it is booming and going against them.
“You weren’t smart in the way you attacked me.”
For the first time, Jose Mourinho talks about the racism claims against him of Galatasaray. pic.twitter.com/4xrful5wro
– Sky Sports News (@Skysportsws) March 6, 2025
“Everyone knows who I am a person. Everyone knows my bad properties, but that’s not one of my bad properties. Exactly the opposite.
“The most important thing is that I know who I am and the attack that accuses racism was a bad choice.”
Mourinho benefited from the support of former players such as Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.
“It was probably even from people who don’t like me,” added Mourinho.
“I thank the people who had no problem to speak (especially my boys, my former players. They were a very important voice.”
In his suspension, Mourinho made it clear what he sees as the reason for his reduction.
“On the day my ban was decided that the head of the disciplinary committee celebrated among friends with a Galatasaray shirt,” he said. “Only here can you understand the dimension.”
🏆 #Uel Round 16, 1. Leg
🆚 Rangers FC
🗓 morning
🇹🇷 8.45 a.m. (GMT+3)
🇪🇺 6.45 p.m. (CET)
📍 @ulkerstadyumu
📲 #Uel #Fbvrfc pic.twitter.com/zg7p7jfbob– Fenerbahce English (@fenerbahce_en) March 5, 2025
If Fenerbahce Rangers overcome, their path to the potential European League -Ruhm could face three of the former teams in Mourinho.
The Roma will wake up in the last eight washes if Serie A defeats the sporty Bilbao, while Manchester United and Tottenham could wait in the semi -finals and finals.
The triumph of the Europa League is the last hope of United to save a miserable season, a minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe’s cost reduction measures against the background of Fan Fury.
When asked about United’s off-Field problems, Mourinho cordially spoke of Ratcliffe.
“To be honest, I don’t know much about what is happening,” said Mourinho about the club’s financial decisions.
“I know Sir Jim Ratcliffe. I don’t say that we are big friends, but we have a good relationship.
“I know him well. He invited me to his house a few times. I see him as a good person and a great businessman.
“Of course I feel some of the people I know (lose their work), but hopefully it will go in the right direction.”
