“I blame the Fenerbahce people that brought me here” - Jose Mourinho launches furious rant as he calls referee ‘little boy’ after 3-2 win

Jose Mourinho has hit out at video assistant referee (VAR) Atilla Karaoglan after Fenerbahce's 3-2 win over Trabzonspor. The Portuguese manager called the on-field referee a 'little boy', claiming the VAR took every decision.

Speaking to the media after the high-octane match, Mourinho went on a rant, even saying he would not have joined the club if he was aware of how the system worked in Turkey. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager then heaped praise on his players for winning despite decisions going against them.

He said (via GOAL):

“Today, the man of the match was [VAR referee] Atilla Karaoglan. We didn’t see him, but he was the referee of the match. The referee was just a little boy who was there on the pitch, but the referee was Atilla Karaoglan. He went from the invisible man to the most important man of the match. I speak on behalf of all Fenerbahce fans: 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.

“I know what I was told, even before I came. I didn’t believe. It’s even worse than I was told. But I prefer to be on this side. It’s more difficult. It’s more difficult because we play against good opponents like Trabzonspor is: good opponent with lots of good players and a historical coach. But we play against a system. And to play against a system is the most difficult thing. Tonight we play against a good team, against a strong atmosphere, against VAR, and against a system. So very hard. That’s why we celebrated this victory so much.

"It’s unbelievable to win this match against so many powerful people. We are not going to give up. We know what we have. I blame the Fenerbahce people that brought me here! They told me only half of the truth. They didn’t tell me the whole truth, because if they told me the whole truth I wouldn’t come! But with half of the truth, with my boys we fight the opponent, we fight the system.”

Jose Mourinho further added that he only cared about his club. But he urged others to join in the fight against the 'corrupt system' while claiming he was bound to be silenced for his rant.

Why did Jose Mourinho go on a rant after Fenerbahce's win over Trabzonspor?

Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce were leading 1-0 at half-time through a goal from former Manchester United midfielder Fred. The Portuguese tactician's side then saw two penalties awarded against them by the VAR, in the 59th and 67th minutes.

The home side, Trabzospor, converted both their chances to take a 2-1 lead before Edin Dzeko equalized in the 75th minute. Fenerbahce had a late appeal for a penalty denied despite replays showing that the ball hit a Trabzonspor player's hand inside the box.

Jose Mourinho reacted furiously on the touchline before midfielder Sofyan Amrabat scored in the 102nd minute to seal a dramatic 3-2 win for his side. The Portuguese was clearly not happy with the two penalty calls that went against his side and hence the rant.