Jose Mourinho claims Fenerbahce would “never” have had a chance of winning the Champions League or making the final after they lost their third qualifying round against Lille.
Trailing 1-0 after the first leg at the Stade Pierre Mauroy last week, the tie looked set to go to a penalty shoot-out in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce drew level in stoppage time of normal time when Bafode Diakite scored an own-goal. But it wasn’t to be as Lille, reduced to 10 men in extra-time, were awarded a spot-kick in the 119th minute.
Canada international Jonathan David made no mistake from 12 yards and sent the French side through to the play-off round where they will face Slavia Prague.
“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,” Mourinho said. “But we would never win the Champions League. We would never reach the Champions League final. Never.”
The 61-year-old has set his sights on the Europa League instead although he couldn’t resist bringing up the 2023 final when he felt refereeing decisions conspired against his Roma side in the lead-up to their penalty shootout defeat to Sevilla.
“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.”
When asked what he meant by ‘if’, Mourinho said: “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.”
Turning his attention to the Europa League, the Portuguese expressed scepticism about the new Swiss model format. “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.”
Mourinho called the competition “a bit strange.” He elaborated: “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.”
(Cemal Yurttas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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