Mourinho on Athletic Bilbao Loss: “We Made a Mistake That Cost Us the Match”

The defeat left the yellow-dark blues with 8 points in the group stage standings.

Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho commented on the loss during an interview with TRT Spor, saying:

“I think everyone who watched the game tonight knows what happened. We started very well, similar to the Manchester United match. We put our opponent under pressure and they struggled. Then we, and I emphasize we, made a mistake. Things changed from that point. Despite the mistake, we continued to play well in the first half, and the 1-0 halftime score was undeserved. Suddenly, with a single shot, it became 2-0. We were the better side in the first half. After going down 2-0, it became difficult. We made substitutions, but after going down to 10 men, the game was over for us. I can’t comment on the fans’ reaction. I am a servant of this club. We made a mistake that likely cost us the match.”

Mourinho Defends Samet Akaydin

In the post-match press conference, Mourinho addressed the criticism aimed at Samet Akaydin, who was whistled at by fans.

“Fred, Oğuz, and Kostić will return for the next match, but I need to protect Samet. He won’t play in our home game. I need to shield him. There will be 3-4-5 changes, but I haven’t decided yet. I know Başakşehir well. If I can sleep tomorrow, I’ll start analyzing; if not, I’ll begin today. As for Becao, each center-back has unique qualities. I like defenders who can build from the back, but this comes with risks. Becao is a different type of center-back. I am happy with my players.”

“İrfan Can Struggled for Consistency”

Mourinho also discussed İrfan Can’s inconsistent form, saying:

“For İrfan to improve, he needs to avoid injuries. In recent months, he has been injured and recovering, which has prevented him from finding consistency. Even today, we weren’t sure if he could play. It was a risk for us. I wish I had players like Jayden, Kostić, and Oğuz Aydın available. You see how challenging our situation is. Today, we didn’t even have a midfielder on the bench. Sometimes, maybe you overlook the reality. I don’t speak Turkish, but does the club give you all the necessary information? I wish I had all my players at my disposal.”

“Shots on Target Don’t Always Reflect the Match”

Mourinho concluded by reflecting on the broader match context:

“I haven’t thought about the next match yet. But sometimes, shots on target don’t accurately reflect the game. Statistics can be pragmatic, but football isn’t. Today, we created enough chances to score. Bilbao nearly scored an own goal under pressure, and I joked on the bench, ‘If that chance were at our end, it would have been a goal.’ Bilbao is in good form right now. They took the lead suddenly and scored a second goal out of nowhere. I haven’t reviewed the stats, but I think we had more possession. The result could have been different.”