Jose Mourinho claims he hasn't been getting 'honest treatment' from UEFA since 2023 Europa League final as disgruntled Fenerbahce boss makes Lionel Messi comparison

After leading AS Roma to a Europa Conference League triumph in the competition's inaugural edition, Mourinho helped the Italian club reach the final of the Europa League in 2023, however, the Giallorossi failed to win back-to-back European titles as they went down against Sevilla. During the final, the Portuguese coach got involved in a controversial spat with referee Anthony Taylor as he was accused of verbally abusing the match official and was later handed a four-match ban.

The 61-year-old opened up about his recent experiences with UEFA as he told Sky Sports: "The feeling is, I am in trouble in Europe. I lost a final in a way that I still don't accept, and since then I feel it.

"I don't want to have special treatment, I want to have honest treatment. Just that. So if I do something wrong punish and pay, but if I do nothing wrong leave me in peace, but it's getting difficult. Since that Budapest final it's getting difficult."

To further solidify his claim, Mourinho brought in a Lionel Messi analogy as he added: "I deserve to be [treated] like everybody else. On the pitch, it doesn't matter if you are Lionel Messi or playing your first match. The rules are the same for Messi and the young kid. And for coaches, it's the same thing. It doesn't matter if you are Carlo Ancelotti or a young coach just starting. Ancelotti has to behave the same way as the young kid has to behave. That's what I want for myself, and that's what I am not getting."

Mourinho's Fenerbahce, who are currently third in the Turkish Super Lig, will be next seen in action on Sunday as they take on Trabzonspor in an important away fixture in the league.