Mourinho claims Galatasaray provoked him after controversial coach incident

Jose Mourinho, the 62-year-old manager of Fenerbahçe, is making headlines for an unexpected act of touching the face of the opposing coach.

Fenerbahçe lost 1-2 against Galatasaray in the semifinals of the 2024-2025 Turkish Cup, held on the 2nd (Korea Time). After a tightly contested match, three red cards were issued during stoppage time in the second half, heightening the tension. Ultimately, Fenerbahçe failed to advance to the finals.

The problem occurred immediately after the match. Mourinho suddenly pulled the nose of Galatasaray’s coach Okan Buruk during a handshake. Buruk covered his face and fell to the ground, and this scene was broadcast live.

Galatasaray immediately responded. Through their official social media account, they posted a photo of Buruk smiling at Mourinho. Accompanying it was the phrase “Don’t attack, digest it,” along with a shushing emoji. This is interpreted as a message to accept the result and calm down.

Mourinho's extreme verbal behavior is not a first. Last February, he publicly criticized the referee's decisions after a match against Galatasaray. At that time, the Galatasaray side pointed out that Mourinho said the opposing bench “was jumping around like monkeys,” leading to allegations of racism. As a result of this remark, Mourinho received a four-match suspension.

ESPN reported, “Mourinho has led prestigious European clubs such as Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United,” noting that “his inability to manage emotions and the ongoing controversies remain his weaknesses.”

Meanwhile, in a press conference ahead of the Trabzonspor match, Mourinho acknowledged his mistake while claiming that Galatasaray deliberately provoked him. He said, "The opposing team intentionally kept provoking and harassing us."

Mourinho emphasized, "If you watch all the footage, you will see how much Galatasaray troubled us. Especially at the end of the match, the opposing team intentionally provoked us to trap us. It was literally due to the opponent's scripted plan that we suffered."

Meanwhile, Mourinho's Fenerbahçe has been eliminated from both the Europa League and the domestic cup, significantly lowering their chances of not winning a trophy this season. Although they are currently second in the league with a game in hand against first-place Galatasaray, they are six points behind.

Mourinho stated, "There are still opportunities to win in every match, and I will not lose confidence. We will unite, make more sacrifices, and ultimately become the champions."

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