New Delhi: Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has rubbished reports of his alleged meeting with Portugal’s Football Federation executives to become national team manager.
Reports in Turkey have been doing the rounds that Mourinho is planning to leave Fenerbahce at the end of the season and replace Portugal coach Roberto Martinez after the UEFA Nations League finals in June.
Mourinho, who was named as the Fenerbahce manager last summer, has one year left on his contract. Though he has not confirmed if he will remain in Turkey next season, but refuted reports on his meeting: “Yes, I can deny that I had any meeting with the Portuguese Football Federation. I am a loyal person.
“The only time I had direct contact with a club, I informed Fenerbahce. It wasn’t now, it was in January. I had a meeting with the (unnamed) club. I didn’t accept the offer. But I informed my club even before the meeting.”
According to Fenerbahce president Ali Koc, Mourinho had received a €36 million offer in the middle of the season to leave the club, but he rejected it.
Mourinho slams Galatasaray
Mourinho, meanwhile, slammed city rivals Galatasaray, who claimed their third consecutive Super Lig title on Sunday with two games to spare.
Galatasaray defeated Kayserispor 3-0 to maintain their eight-point lead over Fenerbahce.
Mourinho was irked by Galatasaray’s decision to send goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to take a penalty and convert it to begin the team’s title celebrations.
“In relation with the way Galatasaray celebrates the title, I think when you celebrate something grey, it shows your human dimension,” Mourinho said.
“They celebrate the title with one episode that reflects exactly what they are, which is when winning 2-0 and (then) having the goalkeeper taking a penalty in the 90th minute. I think that is a perfect image of what they are.”
Since coming to Turkey, Mourinho has slammed the standard of Turkish officiating and even claimed that Galatasaray received special treatment from referees. He said that his team didn’t lose the title on the pitch.
Having already guaranteed a second-place finish, Fenerbache won 2-1 against Eyupspor on Sunday.
Fenerbache manager Jose Mourinho has refuted reports of his meeting with Portuguese team officials for a potential national coaching job. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
