‘I was insulted for 90 minutes’ – Mourinho justifies taunt
Cupping his ear to the crowd, Jose Mourinho produced a mocking sneer that got to the Turin crowd at the end of last night’s Champions League match between Manchester United and Juventus.
Juventus players Leonardo Bonucci and Paulo Dybala confronted Mourinho with United captain Ashley Young intervening as Mourinho was led off the pitch by a UEFA official. It was supposed to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s night after his brilliant strike in the 63rd minute gave the Italian side the lead. In the end it turned out to be Mourinho’s night and he did not pass up on the opportunity to make his feelings known, punching the air furiously at final whistle before the rest of his glorious act followed.
Mourinho’s words after the game seemed to suggest that he believed he was forced into such a reaction due to the crowd’s demeanour towards him during the full match and poked fun at both the FA, saying that ‘FA could translate the insults from the Italian crowd’, while also saying that he wanted to hear the Turin crowd louder.
"They insulted me for 90 minutes. I came here to do my job, nothing more," said former Inter Milan coach Mourinho.
"I didn't offend anyone at the end, I just made a gesture that I wanted to hear them louder. I probably shouldn't have done it, with a cool head I wouldn't have."
United needed the points and Mourinho said that his team’s positive attitude paid off.
“We managed to win because we played a very, very positive match and we looked for the victory to the very end. We looked for it."
Following Ronaldo’s stunning strike, substitute Juan Mata's free-kick on 86 minutes sparked a stunning revival that breathed new life into the visitors' Champions League campaign.
Juve were then left in shock as Ashley Young's free-kick from the left bounced in off a combination of Bonucci and Alex Sandro after a frantic scramble in front of goal.
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