ISTANBUL, OCT 25 – Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho claimed that his former club, Manchester United managed to save themselves from Istanbul with a point when he was sent to the stands in the match that ended in a 1-1 draw in the Europa League yesterday.
United have drawn all three of their European games this season and a point eases some of the pressure on Erik ten Hag.
“We are better than them, so overall a good result for Manchester United,” Mourinho told TNT Sports.
One point saw United slip to 21st out of 36 teams and their chances of a top-eight place in the next round fading.
Fenerbahce are 14th with five points, with a top 24 finish enough to qualify for the playoffs.
Mourinho is also under pressure with Fenerbahce trailing rivals Galatasaray by eight points at the top of the Turkish Super League.
“If we play like this in the Turkish league, we destroy every team,” added Mourinho, who was shown a red card for his protest after an appeal for a penalty was ruled out in the second half.
“He (the referee) told me something extraordinary. He could see the action in the penalty box and also my behavior on the side of the field.
“I congratulate him on his excellent peripheral vision. During the game, 100 miles an hour, he had one eye on the penalty situation and the other eye on the bench watching my behavior. That is why he is one of the best referees in the world,” Mourinho quipped.
United were without Bruno Fernandes and defender Noussair Mazraoui started in midfield to attack to help the impressive opener.
Manuel Ugarte snatched the ball from former United midfielder Fred to launch a counter-attack that involved Alejandro Garnacho and Mazraoui before Joshua Zirkzee fed Eriksen to fire home on 15 minutes, but Fenerbahce’s Youssef En-Nesyri equalized early in the half. the second – AFP
