“That’s why he’s one of the best referees in the world”: expelled, Mourinho jokes about Clément Turpin

The least we can say is that José Mourinho did not appreciate being kicked off his sidelines at Fenerbahçe on Thursday evening against Manchester United in the Europa League (1-1). The Portuguese technician was forced to watch the end of the match from the stands after receiving a red card from French referee Clément Turpin.

He criticized him for getting a little too carried away against a penalty not whistled in favor of his team after a fairly light contact between Manuel Ugarte and Bright Osayi-Samuel.

“He (the referee) said something incredible to me,” explained the Special One to TNT Sports. He told me that he could see the action in the penalty area and my behavior on the touchline at the same time. I congratulated him because he is absolutely incredible, he has peripheral vision during the match. At 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), he has one eye on the penalty situation and one eye on the bench and my behavior. This is the explanation he gave me. That’s why he’s one of the best referees in the world. »

A tirade to obviously be taken at face value from a true tactician of irony. Mourinho was all the more frustrated as he felt his team deserved better than a draw.

“It was they who took a point against us, not the other way around,” he continued. We played really well. I told the players that if we played like that in the league we would destroy everyone. My guys played a superb match. I think in England they will talk about the two or three Manchester United players who didn’t play but they don’t know how many of ours didn’t play. »

Fenerbahçe currently occupies 14th place in the Europa League standings with five points (one win, two draws). Sent off, Mourinho will follow his team’s trip to Alkmaar away from the bench on the next day, November 6.