In a sarcastic swipe, Jose Mourinho labeled referee Clement Turpin as “one of the best in the world” after being sent off during Fenerbahce’s draw against Manchester United in the Europa League, Soccernet.football reports.
The Turkish Super Lig side managed to secure a point in Istanbul, with Youssef En-Nesyri scoring in the second half to cancel out Christian Eriksen’s earlier strike.
Fenerbahce might have achieved more, though, as their penalty appeal was dismissed after Manuel Ugarte clashed with Bright Osayi-Samuel inside the 18-yard box.
Mourinho was banished to the stands over his heated reaction to the incident, and later shed light on his exchange with French referee Turpin in the official’s room.
“I watched the incident back, and I don’t want to speak about it,” he told TNT Sports.
“He told me something incredible. He told me that at the same time, he saw the action in the box and my behaviour. I congratulate him, it’s incredible – his peripheral vision!
“He had one eye on the penalty situation and one eye on my behaviour on the bench – that’s why he’s one of the best referees in the world!”
The Portuguese tactician was however impressed by the effort of his players on the night. With the draw against United, Fenerbahce took their points tally to five from the opening three games.
“They got a point against us, not us against them,” he added. “We played amazingly. I told the players: ‘if we play like this in the Turkish league, we will destroy every single team’.
“The Premier League has more quality, more intensity, more pace, more everything.
“In England, you’ll probably talk about one or two players from United who didn’t play. You don’t know how many of our players didn’t play, we had injuries. We had to solve an amazing puzzle.
“My boys played an amazing match. We had a phenomenal performance. My goalkeeper didn’t make a save.”