Jose Mourinho: “I Didn’t Know Okan Buruk Was Friends with the Referee”
Fenerbahçe defeated Kasımpaşa in the Süper Lig. The Yellow-Navy Blues extended their unbeaten streak to 32 matches. Fenerbahçe's head coach Jose Mourinho assessed the victory.
In the 5th week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe won 2-0 against Kasımpaşa with goals from Saint-Maximin and Dusan Tadic. The Yellow-Navy Blues increased their points to 13.
Fenerbahçe’s head coach Jose Mourinho evaluated the victory after the match.
The Portuguese coach said, “I didn’t like the game. I liked the result. I liked the first half, but I didn’t like the second half. We didn’t show the same intensity. We made too many technical errors. We couldn’t control the game as much as we wanted. It seemed like my players just wanted to get the 3 points and go home. However, most teams drop points after international breaks. There is fatigue during these breaks. We might lose focus. So, 3 points is good.”
Mourinho, who said “We lost possession too much,” continued, “We were not consistent in keeping the ball. We didn’t create any chances in the second half. I didn’t see the desire to win. We didn’t struggle to control the game, but I expected something different. After a two-week international break, I can accept this performance.”
Okan Buruk Comments
When asked about Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk being friends with referee Halil Umut Meler, Jose Mourinho responded, “I didn’t know that my colleague Okan was close friends with this referee. I only learned that now that you mentioned it. Referees can be friends with presidents, coaches, and journalists as long as they are honest.”
“I Haven’t Thought About the Derby Yet”
Mourinho, who watched the Galatasaray match yesterday but hasn’t thought about the derby yet, said, “I haven’t thought about the derby match yet. I watched their game yesterday. I had nothing to do, I was in bed. But I haven’t thought about the derby match yet.”
“The Club Has Provided Me with a Good Squad”
Jose Mourinho mentioned having a good squad, saying, “I can’t give a percentage, but the team can do better. We need to work and improve. Since Friday, we have been able to train with a full squad for the first time. We now know our squad. The players know it now and there are no questions in their minds. After the transfer window closed, we can present a more stable image. Everyone will get a chance in European matches. We will play every 3 days. I think this is good because we have a quality squad. The club has built a good squad for me to work with.”
Jose Mourinho concluded his remarks with the following statements:
“Actually, it’s not about motivation. It’s about finding a balance. You need to know who in your team is tired. For example, Maximin was more explosive and faster today. Dzeko played 2 matches but En-Nesyri was on the bench for 2 matches. Mert Müldür had also played 2 matches, but since Samuel was injured, we played him as much as possible. The team’s performance today wasn’t great, but the job is done. We got the 3 points.”