Jose Mourinho: Fenerbahce boss says he was 'disrespected' after missing press conference - 'I never fear any question'

Published 25/09/2024 at 16:59 GMT

Jose Mourinho suffered his first league defeat as Fenerbahce manager on Saturday as his side fell 3-1 at home to fierce rivals Galatasaray. The Portuguese boss subsequently received a fine for missing a post-match press conference, but defended himself ahead of Thursday's UEFA Europa League opener. "I waited 70 minutes... it is a lack of respect," he said. "I have never feared any question."

‘I never had fear of any journalist’ – ‘Disrespected’ Mourinho on why he missed press conference

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho says he was “disrespected” after being made to wait more than an hour to attend a post-match press conference following a derby defeat to Galatasaray.

The two Istanbul giants clashed on Saturday, with Mourinho’s side suffering a 3-1 defeat.

Mourinho failed to show up for his post-match press conference after the game and was subsequently fined, but he insists he was “not allowed to go” into the press room to face the media.

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“In 24 years of football, I never in my life escaped from a press conference, especially after a defeat,” Mourinho said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League opener against Union Saint-Gilloise.

“I [have] never had fear of any journalist, any question or any press conference. So [it] wouldn't be with you (Turkish media) that I was going to change my way of being,“ he added.

“The game finished, I congratulated the opposing coach. I went direct to the flash interview and then I was 70 minutes waiting to go to the press conference.

“I tried to go. I was not allowed to go. I was in the door of the press conference trying to go. I was not allowed to go.”

Fenerbahce’s defeat at home to their rivals was damaging as it left Mourinho’s men five points behind Galatasaray in second place in the Turkish Super Lig table.

But the Portuguese insisted his post-match behaviour wasn’t dictated by events on the pitch.

“It has nothing to do with the result. It has nothing to do with anything else, only to do with something that is correct or is not correct,” he said.

“The next match will happen the same. I go to the flash interview immediately after the game because that is the logic of the flash interview.

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“The flash interview is not 20 minutes after the game. The flash interview is the flash after the game. You finish the game, you go to the flash.

“Then you wait 15 minutes, 20 minutes, half an hour and the away coach goes [first to the press conference]. [To wait] 70 minutes, I'm sorry, but it is lack of respect. If anybody felt disrespected, I am the one that felt disrespected."

Saturday’s defeat was Mourinho’s first league loss since taking the reins at Fenerbahce in the summer.

However, they suffered defeat to Lille in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, meaning they dropped into the Europa League, which gets underway this week.

The Turkish giants are at home to Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium on Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with kick-off at 17:45 UK time.

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