Jose Mourinho gave a brutally honest assessment about Fenerbahce crashing out of the Champions League following their bruising defeat to Lille.
Mourinho, who was appointed this summer, was unable to guide his side to the Champions League following their 3-2 aggregate defeat to Lille.
The Turkish giants lost the first-leg 2-1 in France before playing out a 1-1 draw in last night's second-leg, which went into extra-time.
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Fenerbahce grabbed a late goal through an own-goal by Bafode Diakite to force extra-time before Jonathan David scored his team's winner from the spot in the 118th minute.
Speaking after the result, the Portuguese bemoaned the economic loss from not being in the Champions League as he admitted his side were never going to win the competition.
"We lose economically because the Champions League obviously is an important boost to the club and we lose the chance to play against the biggest teams in the world," he said. "But we would never win the Champions League. We would never reach the Champions League final. Never."
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Mourinho's Fenerbahce will now enter the Europa League, having failed to qualify for the Champions League.
On playing in the Europa League, he added: "But we go to Europa League and in Europa League if... if... I don’t want to say the rest . I prefer to stay on the ifs. But if we can do a great Europa League. If, if, if. But we can do a great Europa League with if. I can’t speak more than the if. If not, I am in trouble."
Asked what he meant by 'if', Mourinho replied: "If you want to know more about the ifs. I invite you watch Roma-Sevilla in the Europa League final 2022-2023 and you understand the ifs."
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The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss also expressed scepticism about the new format, saying: "I don’t even know the reason why the Europa League is going to be this way. Same as Champions. I don’t know the reason why. We have to adapt, it’s something new for everybody."
He continued: "You play eight matches, four at home, four away. Against some opponents you only play at home, against some opponents, you only play away. It’s strange, but it is what it is. I think money makes decisions and we have to, to adapt to it.
"But as I was saying before, the Champions League would be great for the club, great for the players. But we would never. have a chance to, to go very, very far in the competition and the league is more adapted to our level. And I want to inject ambition in the team to do well."
Topics: Fenerbahce, Champions League, Jose Mourinho, Football
Nasir Jabbar