'I want to thank my boys' - Mourinho hails Drogba and Mikel Obi for supporting him

The Portuguese manager was accused of racism after his post-game comments following Fenerbahce's match with their fierce Turkish rival, Galatasaray SK.

The former Chelsea boss mentioned that Galatasaray players were jumping "like a monkey" and also criticised the Turkish referees.

Following his comment, he received a four-match sideline ban due to his controversial racial comments.

Mourinho expressed gratitude to former African players like Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel for their support.

He told SkySports, "They were not clever in the way they attacked me because they don’t know my connections with Africa, with African people, with African players, with African charities. 

“They have no idea of my past. Instead of going against me, I think it boomeranged and went against them.”

Amid the controversy, Drogba, Mikel, and other African players publicly defended Mourinho, for which he gave them special praise.

His former players publicly defended him and claimed that he is not a racist following the accusations.

“I have only to thank the people who didn’t have a problem speaking, especially my boys, my former African players. They were a very important voice,” he concluded.

The Fenerbahce boss dismissed any accusations of racism, citing his strong connections to Africa as evidence.