Fenerbahce’s Europa League journey took a dramatic turn even before their crucial second-leg clash against Rangers.
With the team needing to overturn a 3-1 deficit, one would expect all hands on deck.
However, winger Allan Saint-Maximin found himself left out of the squad, a decision made by none other than Jose Mourinho.
The Frenchman, who hasn’t featured in the last five league matches, did not take kindly to the omission.
Saint-Maximin Fires Back on Social Media
Frustrated by Mourinho’s decision, the former Newcastle United star didn’t hold back.
Taking to Instagram, he posted a cryptic yet pointed message, seemingly aimed at his coach.
“It will take more than this to defeat me,” he wrote.
“When a lie takes the elevator, the truth takes the stairs. It takes longer but it always arrives in the end. If God is with us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.”
Clearly, Saint-Maximin felt he was being unfairly treated, hinting that the real reasons for his exclusion weren’t being disclosed.
Mourinho’s Witty Response
Mourinho, never one to shy away from a verbal duel, swiftly hit back.
He dismissed Saint-Maximin’s post with a mix of sarcasm and a blunt explanation.
According to him, the winger’s lack of discipline and fitness issues were the real reasons for his absence.
“I didn’t know Saint-Maximin was talented in poetry,” Mourinho quipped.
“I’m not bad in that regard either. When a football player works well, works hard, trains every day, he is fit and can climb the stairs.
He doesn’t need an elevator. However, if a player doesn’t train well, arrives late, is overweight, and is not ready to play, he needs an elevator to go up. Because he gets tired quickly on the stairs.”
It was a classic Mourinho response—cutting, clever, and brutally honest.
Saint-Maximin Doubles Down
Rather than backing down, Saint-Maximin decided to hit back yet again.
He posted another message, this time countering Mourinho’s claims directly.
Alongside a cryptic proverb—”Lies produce flowers but not fruit”—he shared his current weight compared to previous years, essentially calling his coach’s accusations false.
Mourinho’s History of Player Clashes
This isn’t the first time Mourinho has publicly criticized a player.
His history is filled with similar incidents, notably his tough stance on Luke Shaw during his tenure at Manchester United.
Dele Alli also found himself on the receiving end of Mourinho’s blunt assessments, famously captured in the documentary All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur.
Even after Fenerbahce’s disappointing first-leg defeat to Rangers, Mourinho had already sent a message to his squad, making it clear he wasn’t happy.
“Defensively, we made incredible mistakes. They defend a lot with a very low block and then dangerous counters, and we had no pace to follow that.
I have to say that we deserved a punishment of this result. If someone wants to ask me if it’s over, no, I don’t think it’s over.”
What’s Next for Fenerbahce and Saint-Maximin?
With tensions high, all eyes are on the return leg. Can Fenerbahce turn the tie around without Saint-Maximin?
And will this public feud further strain the player-coach relationship?
Mourinho is known for his no-nonsense approach, but whether this latest episode strengthens or weakens his grip on the squad remains to be seen.