Jose Mourinho: “We Are Proud to Be Turkey’s Only Representative in Europe”

Fenerbahçe head coach Jose Mourinho spoke after the match following their elimination of Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa League.

“WE KNEW IT WOULDN’T BE EASY”

“I’m happy; we advanced to the next round and didn’t lose. In these kinds of matches, the most important thing is to qualify, and if you don’t lose the game, even better. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. We started well and could have finished the game early. We fell behind 2-1 but stayed calm. Once we equalized, the match was over. It’s unfortunate that Fred is suspended. We’ve played 13-14 games in Europe, so accumulating cards is normal. The good thing is we didn’t suffer any injuries. Bright had a minor issue, and we took a risk by playing Mert Müldür. Now, we wait for the draw.”

“WE’LL THINK ABOUT THE DERBY TOMORROW”

When asked about the upcoming Galatasaray derby, the Portuguese coach responded: “Right now, we deserve to rest. We’ll go back to our hotel and have some döner. Then, I’ll go and watch my TV series. Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin thinking about the important match ahead.”

“WE ARE THE ONLY CLUB REPRESENTING TURKEY”

“We are proud to be the only club representing Turkey in European competitions.”

“I WOULD PREFER OLYMPIAKOS”

“Olympiakos would be less tiring in terms of travel. Maybe that’s why I’d prefer them. But if we have to go to Scotland, we will. It’s a great stadium with an amazing atmosphere. Fred is an important loss for us. Now, we’ll focus on our upcoming league and cup matches.”

“FOREIGN REFEREE”

“If a decision has been made and it’s a top-level referee, I think it’s important for credibility. I’m happy with this decision. Even though it may not always seem like it, I am someone who values fair play. We want to win, and they want to win. Hopefully, it will be a great football match.”

“GAME STOPPAGE BENEFITED OUR OPPONENT”

“This is a city in the heart of Europe, yet there were attacks on Fenerbahçe fans in the stands. How did this affect you?”
“When it first happened, we didn’t know what was going on. Referee Sandro explained it to me when we went inside. We were in a good phase of the game, and the stoppage benefited our opponent. My concern was potential injuries. We couldn’t go back out immediately. I asked the referee for a few extra minutes to warm up. He managed the situation well. Both sets of fans supported their teams. Everything was fine, and I hope everyone got home safely.”