Mourinho explains full-time antics: 'I was insulted for 90 minutes'

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United pulled a seemingly impossible result out of the bag on Wednesday, scoring twice in the final five minutes to turn an impending 1-0 defeat to Juventus into a 2-1 win in Turin.

Mourinho was clearly pleased. The Portuguese boss took to the pitch after the full-time whistle, cupping his ear to the Bianconeri fans in a gesture which he says was a response to abuse he received throughout the game.

“I was insulted for 90 minutes,” Mourinho said after the game, via the Guardian’s Barney Ronay. “I do my work and nothing more. At the end I didn’t insult anyone, I just did the gesture that I wanted to hear them more. I wouldn’t do it again. But I came here as a professional that does his work and people insulted my family, this is why I reacted this way. I don’t want to think about it.”

He added, according to The Telegraph’s James Ducker: “I probably shouldn’t have done it, and with a cool head I wouldn’t have done it, but with my family insulted, including my Inter family, I reacted like this.”

Admitting that his actions weren’t the wisest idea is likely a reaction to the situation Mourinho has found himself in over the past few weeks. He was the subject of an investigation after comments allegedly made following United’s win over Newcastle United. Mourinho has since been cleared, though the FA is appealing the decision.

United’s late comeback on Wednesday puts them second to Juve in Group H, two points behind the Italian champions and two ahead of Valencia in third.