Mourinho on Lyon Game Challenges: “10 Absentees, but We’ll Overcome Together”
Fenerbahçe head coach Jose Mourinho made statements ahead of the UEFA Europa League match against Lyon. The Portuguese manager responded to comments from Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk and announced his center-back choice for the Lyon game.
At the press conference before the match, Mourinho shared the following remarks:
“WE WILL COMPENSATE FOR OUR SHORTCOMINGS WITH FAN SUPPORT”
“With the support of our fans, we aim to overcome this situation. That’s the only way we can deal with the absence of 10 players. Two points from the next two matches will be enough for us. Tomorrow’s game isn’t one where people should expect anything extraordinary.”
MANY ABSENTEES
“We had five players capable of playing as fullbacks, but none of them will be available. İsmail Yüksek, Becao, and Samet are also out. It’s a tough situation for us, and tomorrow we face a strong opponent. We have high expectations in this tournament, and to keep dreaming, we need to advance to the next round. Right now, this stage is harder for us than the next one because in the next round, we can add new players. The match against Midtjylland will also be challenging. I believe the stadium will be full tomorrow—it’s time for support.”
ON SKRINIAR’S TRANSFER
“I had a small role in the Skriniar transfer. The club played the main role, showing great determination to make it happen. My role was just to call him and explain how amazing Fenerbahçe is as a club and how fair this league is.”
“I WANT POSITIVE SUPPORT FROM FANS”
“Turkish fans are very passionate. Sometimes that passion is positive, and sometimes it’s negative. In our stadium, we experience both. Tomorrow, I ask for positive support from our fans. Building the squad will be difficult, and we’ll have limited options on the bench. There will be four youth players. I trust my team, and tomorrow Yusuf Akçiçek will play.”
“OKAN BURUK IS RIGHT”
“Okan Buruk is right—when you’re in the lead, you don’t need to look at other teams. I agree with him. Game quality can be subjective, but if we’re talking numbers, the ones you mentioned are accurate. With all the chances we’ve created, we should have scored more goals. Game quality isn’t just about us. I was talking to my close friend Ancelotti recently—someone who has achieved great things. He told me, ‘In Spain, Real Madrid is criticized, but we’re at the top of the league.’ If you ask me if I’m satisfied with the way we’re playing, I’d say no because I always believe we can do better.”
“NO PROBLEMS WITH ITALIAN REFEREES”
“I don’t have a problem with Italian referees; they had a problem with me. I don’t think there will be an issue in this match.”
“Training starts at 4:00 PM, and we invite everyone to observe a moment of silence for yesterday’s tragedy.”
