AliousMourinho’s Frustration Boils Over After Fenerbahce’s Europa League Exit
Jose Mourinho’s post-match reaction to **Rangers’ dramatic penalty shootout victory over Fenerbahce** immediately brought to mind one of his most infamous moments—a phrase that has since become synonymous with his frustration: **”If I speak…”
Although the legendary Portuguese manager didn’t repeat those exact words—coined during a 2014 Chelsea defeat to Aston Villa—his sentiment was unmistakable. He was clearly biting his tongue over what he perceived as a major officiating injustice.
Mourinho Left Furious Over Controversial Incident**
The flashpoint Mourinho was referring to came in extra time, when **Nico Raskin appeared to clip the heel of Mert Hakan Yandaş inside the box. The Fenerbahce players and coaching staff erupted in appeals for a penalty, but their pleas were waved away. Mourinho, in his signature animated fashion, made his frustration clear on the sidelines—only to be rewarded with a yellow card instead of a penalty.
For Mourinho, the Belgian midfielder, who had been a standout in the first leg, was fortunate to escape punishment in the second. And on a night where penalty kicks played a defining role, Rangers ultimately had luck on their side.
Rangers Advance as Mourinho Watches Another European Dream End
Rangers secured their place in the pEuropa League semi-finals, setting up a clash with Athletic Bilbao, thanks to goalkeeper *ack Butland. The English shot-stopper **denied both Dusan Tadic and Fred** in the shootout, while **Yandaş sent his effort soaring into the River Clyde**, sealing Rangers’ victory.
Despite his visible frustration, Mourinho showed initial grace in defeat. As Ally McCoist pointed out, he made a **classy gesture** by acknowledging the Rangers supporters as he left the pitch. However, his mood soured considerably when he took the microphone in the post-match press conference.
*”We deserved to win over 90 minutes. We deserved to win after 120 minutes. We were the best team by far,”* Mourinho insisted, lamenting that Sebastian Szymański’s brace ultimately counted for nothing.
*”In the first match, I was honest and said we made mistakes and deserved to lose. But tonight, we were the better team by far.”*
He did, however, take a moment to congratulate Rangers while emphasizing the disappointment for his own team and fans:
*”Congratulations to Rangers, but my team deserves everything—from me, from our supporters, and even from Turkey as a country—because we were the last club representing them in Europe.”*
*”I’m sad for my boys because this was their dream, but I’m proud of them.”*
Mourinho’s Sixth European Title Bid Ends in Controversy
Speaking to Turkish media, Mourinho did not hold back in his criticism of the officiating, **particularly VAR official Pol van Boekel. The Dutch referee, according to Mourinho, would not be losing any sleep over his decisions—but his team certainly would.
*”I don’t think VAR will have any trouble sleeping tonight,”* he fumed. *”He’ll eat, rest, and prepare for another big international match. But for us, this loss is huge. We lost our dreams today. It was very unfair.”*
Mourinho further expressed his disappointment, stating that while he had already won five European trophies, his players were chasing their first, making the loss even more painful.
*”I had a dream. I have succeeded five times in Europe, but my players wanted their first. I feel sorry for them, for everyone who shared this dream. It’s not easy, but we have to keep moving forward.”*
Defending His Players Amid Shootout Heartbreak*
Mourinho refused to place blame on the players who missed penalties, emphasizing that **the entire team shares responsibility for the defeat**.
*”Of course, when you lose like this, it’s painful. The players who missed penalties will have that moment playing over and over in their minds tonight.”*
*”But I don’t like to blame them. We practiced penalties, and the players decided the order themselves. That’s football. It’s not the ones who missed who lost the match—it’s all of us.”*
With his bid for a sixth European title now over, Mourinho must regroup and refocus as Fenerbahce turns their attention back to domestic football. However, given his history of controversial exits in European competitions, this is unlikely to be the last we hear from him on the matter.
Alious
