'I was better than him!' - Jose Mourinho savaged by Galatasaray manager following Fenerbahce sacking as Special One looks to rebuild reputation after flopping in Turkey

Buruk has delivered a damning assessment of his former rival Mourinho, claiming the new Benfica boss "hasn't upgraded himself as a coach" and is "not focused like before."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic, Buruk reflected on winning the Turkish Super Lig title against Mourinho's Fenerbahce last season, a rivalry in which the Galatasaray manager came out firmly on top.

The brief but intensely personal feud between Mourinho and Buruk exploded during Mourinho’s single season at Fenerbahce. The conflict began in February 2025 when Mourinho’s "jumping like monkeys" comment about the Galatasaray bench led to racism accusations, a lawsuit from Mourinho, and a four-game ban. It climaxed in a chaotic April Turkish Cup quarter-final where, after a 2-1 defeat, Mourinho pinched Buruk’s nose, sparking a mass brawl and three red cards. While Buruk admitted he “exaggerated” his dramatic fall, Fenerbahce accused him of faking it “like he was shot,” encapsulating their remarkably volatile rivalry.

Buruk's Galatasaray went unbeaten in three meetings against Mourinho's Fenerbahce, recording two victories and a draw en route to their third consecutive league championship. The Turkish coach made it clear who he felt was superior both on and off the pitch, referencing Mourinho's famous mind games.

"He doesn’t just play inside the pitch. He wants to play outside the pitch too," Buruk said. "He tried a lot of things, but in the end, we were better than him. I was better than him. We won the title against him."

The Galatasaray manager offered a stark critique of Mourinho's current coaching style, suggesting the 62-year-old has failed to evolve with the modern game. 

"He's not focused like before. He doesn’t think about football like before," Buruk stated. "He has never changed his style as a coach. He is a really important character, he has really important charisma, but in terms of football, we have to upgrade ourselves every year. Maybe the problem for him is that he hasn’t upgraded himself as a coach."

Having established near-total domestic dominance, including a record-breaking 102-point season in 2023-24, Buruk's focus is now on making an impact in Europe. Backed by major summer signings including Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, and the permanent transfer of Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray are aiming to replicate the success of the 2000 side that won the UEFA Cup. Buruk, who was a player in that team, is now chasing a record-equalling fourth straight league title.

While Mourinho prepares for his own Champions League return with Benfica, facing a reunion with former club Chelsea, Buruk is relishing a personal test against Europe's elite. Galatasaray have been drawn in a formidable group alongside Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. The 51-year-old, who has expressed a long-term ambition to manage in the Premier League, sees the campaign as a crucial opportunity to enhance his reputation on the biggest stage.