Football Daily didn’t get to where it is today by shirking its duties. If we promise to sneak into your inbox or spam folder five days a week (excluding Bank Holidays), then that’s exactly what we’ll do, even though there’s a high probability that no one would notice or even mind if we missed a day here and there. It appears the same can’t be said for José Mourinho, who has been fined for not showing up at his post-match press conference following Fenerbahce’s loss to Galatasaray in last Saturday’s Intercontinental Derby. His absence was only explained yesterday.
José was speaking ahead of Fenerbahce’s Bigger Vase match against Union Saint-Gilloise tonight. Having graced this particular presser with his presence, he unsurprisingly took strong exception to the idea that he might have skipped his post-match media duties last weekend due to one of his legendary sulks or, even worse, out of fear. “In 24 years of football, I never once avoided a press conference, especially after a defeat,” he stated. “I’ve never feared any journalist, any question, or any press conference. So, it wouldn’t be with you that I’d change my ways.”
After dismissing the Istanbul media for even suggesting he might have tried to dodge them post-defeat, José explained that he had been kept waiting for 75 minutes and eventually lost patience, deciding to head home. “I tried to go,” he recounted. “I was not allowed to go. I was at the door of the press conference trying to leave, but I was not permitted. So, it had nothing to do with the result or anything else; it was about something that was either correct or not.”
When asked if his no-show was a sign of disrespect, José agreed that it was, though not in the way the reporters he’d ignored might have expected. “If anyone felt disrespected, it was me.” Amidst accusations that Arsenal used football’s “dark arts” against Manchester City, it was refreshing to see a master at work, using every trick in the book to divert attention from his team’s poor performance in the derby.
With Tottenham and Rangers also in Bigger Vase action tonight, Ange Postecoglou and Philippe Clement were content to sit in front of Uefa’s official screens, adorned with smaller, more colorful rectangles, while fielding questions from reporters. Neither said anything memorable ahead of matches that are unlikely to be remembered. But at least they showed up, right?
Join Taha Hashim for a comprehensive Clockwatch that covers both the second legs of the Women’s Big Cup qualifying, including Arsenal 3-1 Häcken (3-2 agg), and Bigger Vase games, including Malmo 1-1 Rangers. Additionally, Will Unwin will provide live MBM Bigger Vase updates from Tottenham 3-1 Qarabag starting at 8pm BST.
Monday 18 March 2024: Scott Munn, Tottenham Hotspur’s chief football officer, unveils plans for a post-season tour of Australia, with the first match (in Melbourne on 22 May) scheduled just three days after Spurs’ final Premier League match of the previous season (on 19 May in Sheffield).
Wednesday 25 September 2024: Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, discusses the impact of fixture congestion on his squad just weeks into the new season.
Readers’ letters and comments on various topics, including Hearts’ use of data analytics and nostalgic memories of Luton’s Manager Idol, provide a delightful trip down memory lane.
