Jose Mourinho hints at UEFA conspiracy against Fenerbahce in box office interview after Rangers defeat

Jose Mourinho has hinted at a UEFA 'conspiracy' against him after his Fenerbahce side were knocked out of the Europa League on penalties by Rangers.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Istanbul, Fenerbahce won the second leg 2-0 at Ibrox courtesy of a double from Sebastian Szymanski and took the tie all the way to penalties.

But Rangers emerged victorious 3-2 in the shoot-out, with Jack Butland saving two penalties to set up a quarter-final with 2012 finalists Athletic Club.

Mourinho has therefore been denied the chance to win European silverware once again and after the game, he proceeded to produce yet another box office interview full of controversy.

The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager was booked for his behaviour on the touchline and afterwards, claimed that his side were the better side by far and should have had THREE penalties given.

Hakan Yandas, who ended up blazing the crucial spot-kick over the bar, went down twice but nothing was given by referee Espen Eskas or the VAR.

Jose Mourinho produced a typically outrageous rant after Fenerbahce were knocked out of the Europa League. Image: Getty

"We did everything to win, we deserved to win," Mourinho told TNT Sports.

"The referee and the VAR, they decided that we should go to penalties because three penalties during the 120 minutes.

"Then on the penalties, we miss three and Rangers go through. Congratulations to them. I think my team deserves everything from me, from our supporters, from Turkey as a country."

Mourinho brands referee "arrogant" and hints at feeling punished for Anthony Taylor row

Mourinho was complimentary of fourth official Rohit Saggi but had a dig at man in the middle Eskas, branding him "arrogant".

The 62-year-old then said he hoped that what happened to his team isn't related to what happened in the 2023 Europa League final in Budapest, where his Roma side were beaten by Sevilla.

Mourinho was hit with a four-game ban by UEFA for his conduct towards referee Anthony Taylor after losing his first European final.

And he now suggested that he feels as though he is being slighted over that incident.

Mourinho added: "The fourth official was a nice guy, he was not arrogant like the referee. He was a nice guy.

"He was trying to do his job, he was not making decisions. He was trying to put our bench calm, I was the only one calm. The ones in front of the laptops, for them it's difficult to control.

"In relation to me, the only thing that I hope is that everything that happen to my team in European competitions is not a consequence of the Budapest final.

"I hope it's just random.

"We come here and the VAR is considered one of the best VARs, some guy from Holland, van Boekel.

"He didn't see one of three penalties. I just hope it's random. I got that suspension, I paid for that suspension. I hope this is just bad luck."

Fenerbahce will look to bounce back on Sunday when they host Samsunspor in the Turkish Super Lig. Mourinho's men are currently seven points behind league leaders Galatasaray, having played a game less.