Mourinho was sent to the stands

'I think' - Jose Mourinho makes next job statement amid red card fury

by · Manchester Evening News

Jose Mourinho blamed the fallout over Roma's Europa League final defeat to Sevilla after he was sent off during Fenerbahce's Europa League draw with Manchester United.

Referee Clement Turpin showed Mourinho a red card after he appealed for a penalty when Fenerbahce right back Bright Osayi-Samuel appeared to be caught by Manuel Ugarte with the game level at 1-1 in the second half.

Mourinho was sent off three times as coach of Roma last season and he was charged with using "insulting/abusive language" towards English referee Anthony Taylor when Roma were beaten by Sevilla in a penalty shootout last year.

Mourinho's history with UEFA officials stretches back nearly 20 years. Volker Roth, the chairman of the UEFA referees' committee, branded Mourinho an "enemy of football" after he was blamed for causing referee Anders Frisk to retire. Mourinho suggested on Thursday night his next job would have to be a club with no chance of playing in a European competition.

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"I think the best thing I have to do is when I leave Fenerbahce I go to a club that doesn't play UEFA competitions," Mourinho said. "So you find a club in England from the bottom of the table, needs a coach in two years, I am ready to go. And I don't want to say any more about it.

"I want to speak about the game. We played absolutely fantastic. Against a team in theory, from a superior level, we played fantastic.

"If I appeal, I will get a six-month ban. There is nothing to do. Since Sevilla-Roma final, there is nothing to do. It is what it is. That is why I say the future is maybe better without European competitions so I don't get upset. It is what it is."

Mourinho lavished praise on Andre Onana for his double-save from Youssef En-Nesyri in the first half when United were 1-0 up. Mourinho sidled over to Onana at half-time but admitted he could not repeat what he told him.

"I don't see in the Turkish league a goalkeeper capable to do what Onana did," Mourinho said. "I don't see in the Turkish league a winger capable of putting so much pace in counter attack like Marcus Rashford and (Alejandro) Garnacho do. And I could go on and on and on.

"The double save was fundamental. Our best period, very good start of the game. When we concede the goal, we concede the goal against the wind, let's say that. But the saves, they're amazing saves. And that was important because we controlled the game very, very well. Our goalkeeper for sure, was not man of the match.

"I know you English media, I know you are probably going to say Manchester United didn't play well, Manchester United didn't have shots. Why? Why didn't they have shots? Why were they not dominant? Because the opponent was good, the opponent was very good. I think my players deserve that credit for that performance."