We Deserved to Advance, Losing the Champions League is Disappointing

Following Fenerbahçe’s 1-1 draw with Lille in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg, resulting in their elimination from the tournament, head coach Jose Mourinho made significant remarks during the post-match press conference. Mourinho, speaking after the match at Ülker Stadium, emphasized that they deserved to advance, but the absence of key players had a major impact on the outcome.

“We Did Everything Tactically and Emotionally”

Mourinho expressed pride in his players, stating, “We adapted to different conditions during the match, missed clear chances, and hit the post twice. Today, one team deserved to win, but it was Lille who advanced. The Champions League is a huge financial loss. We also lost the opportunity to play against some of the world’s biggest teams,” he said.

“Fred and Ferdi’s Absence Made It Difficult for Us”

Mourinho highlighted how the absence of Fred and Ferdi Kadıoğlu negatively affected the team. “We’re heading to the Europa League. I don’t want to say ‘if’, but we can do well there too. Losing two creative players like Fred and Ferdi was a huge setback. My players did their best, and I’m proud of them,” he said.

“I Would Have Preferred to Be in the Champions League”

The Portuguese coach expressed his preference for being in the Champions League. “I have enough experience to know that we wouldn’t have reached the final in the Champions League, but we have a chance in the Europa League. We’ll face teams at our level, and the matches will be more competitive,” he added.

Mourinho also noted that the opposing team’s goalkeeper was the “man of the match” in both games and mentioned that statistics don’t always reflect the reality of the game.

“We Need to Adapt to the New Europa League Format”

Mourinho discussed the new format of the Europa League: “With the new format, we will play 8 matches, which means a match every midweek. I hope the other teams in the Süper Lig can keep up with this pace as well.”

Finally, Mourinho mentioned that he is not considering transfers despite the injuries to Fred and Ferdi, hoping for their quick recovery. “The transfer window is open, but I’m not asking for anything,” he said.

As Fenerbahçe now shifts its focus to the Süper Lig and Europa League, Mourinho’s team aims to secure points from tough away games.