Galatasaray captain Fernando Muslera has slammed Jose Mourinho for his criticism of Turkish football and told him to leave if he doesn’t like it.
Mourinho took over as Fenerbahce manager in June and, predictably, it has not taken him long to ruffle feathers.
After a win over Tranbzonspor earlier this month, the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss hit out at the officials and suggested his side were fighting against a biased system.
‘Today, the man of the match was [VAR referee] Atilla Karaoglan. We didn’t see him, but he was the referee of the match,’ Mourinho said despite a 3-2 win for his side.
‘We don’t want him again. We don’t want him because it smells bad. We don’t want him. We don’t want him on the pitch, but on the VAR even less.’
He added: ‘We play against a system. And to play against a system is the most difficult thing.’
Muslera is not impressed with the Portuguese icon’s attitude or remarks and has told him that he is welcome to leave if he doesn’t appreciate Turkish football.
The 38-year-old Uruguayan has been at Galatasaray since 2011, making over 500 appearances for the club, and feels he is in a good position to defend his adopted nation.
‘The insults towards Turkish football and the fact that he is attacking some referees are things that bother me,’ Muslera told Turkiye Today.
‘This is the first time in 14 years that I feel obliged to make such a speech. I won 17 trophies in 14 years. If we consider my contribution, my constant aim is to advance Turkish football.
‘If Mourinho, who came here 4 months ago, criticises Turkish football and doesn’t like it, he can leave. Although nobody says anything, I think now someone can say something to him. We need to pay a little more attention to those who move Turkish football forward.’
Mourinho was hit with a fine and a one-match ban for his comments by the Turkish Football Federation.
A statement from the TFF read: ‘In the post-match flash interview and press conference are evaluated as a whole; the statements in question are contrary to sportsmanship, sports ethics or the concept of fair play, damage the reputation of the TFF, aim to diminish the value of Turkish football, cast a shadow over the impartiality of the referees and other match officials, and are therefore punished with a discretionary fine of 900,000 TL (£20,178) in accordance with Article 38/4-a of the FDT due to Unsportsmanlike Statements.’
As a result Mourinho sat out Fenerbahce’s 4-0 win over Sivasspor on Sunday. His side sit second in the table, five points adrift of Galatasaray.
The former Real Madrid manager may also have wound up some Fenerbahce fans by openly saying that he will likely be looking for a new job in a couple of years.
After a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Europa League he said: ‘The best thing I have to do is when I leave Fener is that I go to a club that doesn’t play in UEFA competition. So, a club at the bottom in England who needs a coach in two years, I’m ready to go.’
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