Jose Mourinho will come up against his former side Manchester United in the Europa League with Fenerbahce later this month

Bizarre protest, tears and tantrums - Mourinho remains box office and has Man United in his sights

by · Manchester Evening News

A little over seven years since leading Manchester United to their last European trophy - Jose Mourinho is seeking to put a dent in the Reds' attempts to win another.

Mourinho guided United to the Europa League in 2017 and will face his former club later this month with Fenerbahce. The Turkish giants host United on Ocotber 24 in what will prove a pivotal contest for both in the Europa League.

The expanded competition provides more jeopardy and United missed an opportunity in matchday one when they could only draw with FC Twente while Fenerbahce opened with a victory. The game in Istanbul is sure to attract attention with Mourinho still making headlines despite being away from Europe's big five leagues for the first time since announcing his arrival to world football with Porto.

ALSO READ: I played against United in Europe, this is what Porto need to do to beat them

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag gives spiky Man United response as his selection policy is set for ultimate test

He's only been in Turkey for a matter of months but has already made quite the impression - on and off the pitch. We take a look at some of the Mourinho moments so far.

'Bizarre protest'

Mourinho was booked last week for a bizarre protest at a VAR decision during Fenerbache's 2-0 victory over Antalyaspor. He put a laptop in front of the TV cameras to show his view of the call after Edin Dzeko had seen a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR check.

The laptop displayed an angle Mourinho felt showed the decision was wrong and while it made headlines around the globe, it earned him a yellow card from the referee.

"For us it was a good goal," Mourinho said in Sunday's post-game news conference. "I didn't say a single word. I didn't put any kind of pressure, I just put the laptop in there ... I just reacted calmly.

"The referee decided to give me a yellow card. It's OK. I want a VAR that helps the referee. My analyst put the laptop in front of me with the position of the left-back that probably was not the position that VAR analysed because we have the technical camera that gives us the complete width of the pitch and the let-back was in position."

'I was disrespected'

After Mourinho's men were beaten in the titanic Turkish derby by Galatasaray last month, the Fenerbahce boss did not attend the post match press conference, prompting thoughts he was a sore loser and feeling the pressure. That was something the ex United chief refuted the next time he faced the media.

He said: "In 24 years of football, I never in my life escaped from a press conference especially after a defeat. I never had fear of any journalist, any question or any press conference. So, it wouldn't be with you that I was going to change my way of being. That doesn't have any logic to be waiting 75 minutes to go to a press conference.

"The game finished, I congratulate the opposing coach, I went directly 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. So it has nothing to do with the result, it has nothing to do with anything, it has only to do with something that is either correct or not correct."

He added: "I'm sorry, but its a lack of respect. So if anybody felt disrespected, I am the one that felt disrespected."

'Crying One'

Mourinho was infamously the special one at Chelsea but rivals Galatasaray used that moniker to taunt the Portuguese after the derby.

Galatasaray posted on their official X account a photoshopped image of a book called "The Crying One," with a picture of Mourinho looking down on the cover. It was captioned: "On sale in stores around Kadıköy." And when they went 3-1 up in the game, Gala posted on their official X account "Seems like we're cooking a special one tonight."

On the pitch that is Mourinho's only defeat in the league with his side three points behind leaders Galatasaray after seven matches.