Jose Mourinho claims he is fighting 'system' in Turkey ahead of Fenerbahce UEFA Europa League tie against Rangers

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Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce face Rangers in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie this Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Mourinho has spoken about being a "better coach" than before and has also criticised the "system dominancy" of Galatasaray in Turkey which makes his job "very hard". Mourinho thinks Rangers will be "more difficult" to face under interim boss Barry Ferguson.

Scottish or Turkish derbies? A 'system dominancy' in Turkey? Mourinho tells all

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jose Mourinho says he has "changed for better" and improved as a coach ahead of Fenerbahce facing Rangers in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.

Mourinho, 62, has enjoyed a glittering managerial career that has seen him win five European trophies, including the UEFA Champions League twice, with FC Porto and Inter Milan respectively.

He has also never shied away from the spotlight, and that has continued in Turkey as he has hit out at "scandal" and the standard of refereeing.

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But ahead of the first leg against Rangers, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Thursday, March 6, Mourinho says he is now at a stage of his career where he thinks "less about myself and more about others".

"I have changed for better," he told TNT Sports. "I think I am a better coach than before, more experienced, everything looks like deja vu.

"I could tell my players last week when we beat Anderlecht at home that the second leg is open because I have had 200 matches in Europe and everything has happened.

"I think less about myself and more about the others, my players, my board, the fans of my club. I feel much better now than before. Of course I change physically, but as a coach I am better than before."

'Goes above anything that is understandable' - Mourinho goes on rant about 'toxic' Turkish league

Video credit: SNTV

Mourinho made headlines over the last week when he filed a lawsuit against Galatasaray after the club accused him of making racist statements.

He was also hit with a four-game ban - subsequently halved - and fined for two separate disciplinary matters following Fenerbahce’s draw against rivals Galatasaray.

Comparing the Istanbul rivalry between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray to the Glasgow rivalry between Rangers and Celtic, Mourinho said at Fenerbahce he is fighting against "system dominancy".

He said: "I think in Scotland it’s pure passion and pure rivalry. Before the [2003 UEFA Cup] final against Celtic in Seville, I had the chance to go to Scotland to analyse Celtic and one of the matches was Rangers against Celtic at Ibrox. It was beautiful, amazing.

"Here the rivalry is not just a football rivalry, it is a system that is dominated by one club that makes the league… it doesn’t smell [like] a very nice perfume.

"A club that is desperately trying to break the dominance of Galatasaray, but it is not a football dominancy, it is a system dominancy. And that makes the job very hard.

"I work for a huge football club, a clean football club, a club that wants to win, that wants to clean the Turkish league in the right way."

Interim manager Barry Ferguson will take charge of Rangers for the first time in Europe after replacing Philippe Clement in the dugout.

Clement was sacked in February as Celtic ran away with the league title, and Mourinho thinks Rangers will be a tougher prospect with Ferguson in charge.

"I know Barry much better as a player than as a coach, but knowing the player and the personality, I know that it’s going to be much more difficult than it would be with the previous coach," Mourinho continued.

"The previous coach with Rangers, he lost too much time with philosophy and lost too many points.

"The league is over for Rangers, so I think they will put everything in the Europa League as it’s the only competition they can win."

Mourinho faces the potential prospect of reunions against former sides Manchester United, Roma and Tottenham if Fenerbahce progress to the final of the Europa League.

Looking at where Fenerbahce sit among the contenders in the competition, Mourinho said: "When you look at the two English teams, Tottenham and Man Utd, Bilbao are a top team, they would play the final at home.

"There are big teams in this competition so let’s think about Rangers. If we are in the last eight, then you can start dreaming a little bit, but 16 teams there is a long way to go."

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Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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