Jose Mourinho has harshly criticized his Fenerbahce team after their 3-1 loss to Rangers in the Europa League.
The Portuguese coach watched as a determined Rangers side stunned Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie. Rangers secured a commanding win in Turkey with a disciplined performance, and Barry Ferguson’s team could have won by an even greater margin if not for VAR.
Despite the defeat, Mourinho stated in his post-match press conference that the 3-1 scoreline was actually a positive outcome for Fenerbahce, given how poorly they performed. He admitted Rangers could have won by a much larger margin and did not hold back in his criticism of his squad. Mourinho insisted his players fully deserved the loss, even though Ferguson caught him off guard by altering Rangers’ formation for the match in Istanbul.
“We deserved the punishment of this result,” Mourinho admitted.
Mourinho Slams Fenerbahce’s Performance
After the match, Mourinho was brutally honest about his team’s display, stating that they were poor in every aspect of the game.
“It’s not fair to say we were very bad in defence,” Mourinho said. “Because we were very bad everywhere.”
He acknowledged that while some might find it amusing, he considered the 3-1 defeat a fortunate result, as Fenerbahce’s performance could have led to a heavier loss.
“Our overall performance was bad. We didn’t take our chances. Our midfield lacked energy. We lost too many duels. Our passing was slow.
“Defensively, we made huge mistakes. We never controlled the space in behind. They defended deep and hit us on the counter, and we didn’t have the pace to stop them.
“So for me, I have to say that we deserved this punishment.”
Mourinho Praises Rangers’ Goalkeeper Jack Butland
Despite his criticism of Fenerbahce, Mourinho did take a moment to acknowledge the performance of Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Although Butland had a controversial moment early in the match when he collided with Robin Propper, he recovered to put in an excellent display. He made several key saves to preserve Rangers’ two-goal lead, including a stunning stop from Anderson Talisca.
“I know that Butland made three fantastic saves,” Mourinho said. “I also believe there was a penalty for us, but after a performance like that, I don’t think it’s ethical to talk about the referee.”
Mourinho Eyes Second Leg Comeback
Mourinho also addressed the absence of Brazilian midfielder Fred, who missed the game due to suspension. He suggested that Fred’s presence had been crucial to the team’s recent performances and hinted that his return for the second leg could make a difference.
“I don’t like to single out players, but the team was playing fantastic with him in that role,” Mourinho said.
When asked if the tie was effectively over, Mourinho was defiant.
“No, I don’t think it’s over. There are still 90 or even 120 minutes left to play.”
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