Jose Mourinho nearly got saved from a loss in his first game with Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League Qualifiers. The Turkish club was trailing against Swiss club Lugano but ex-Manchester City forward Edim Dzeko’s 21-minute super hat-trick saved the team.
Jose Mourinho Slams UEFA
The match was conducted on a synthetic turf. Due to this, it was difficult for the players to move the ball quicker on the field. After the match, Jose went furious and slammed UEFA for this.
“We tried not to make excuses before the match, but playing quality football on a synthetic pitch is a challenge. The ball doesn’t move as it should, players struggle to dribble, and the game’s pace slows significantly. I can’t fathom why UEFA permits Champions League matches on synthetic surfaces. It’s also perplexing why a good team like Lugano would choose to play on such a pitch. It wasn’t ideal for the game.”
Mourinho, despite the win, isn’t happy with the results
“A seven-goal game is thrilling for the fans, but from a coaching perspective, conceding three goals is problematic,” he said.
“I didn’t like conceding a goal from a set piece, the second goal was an easy shot and the third was not fair play, they should have given us the ball and they didn’t.”
The second leg will be on Fenerbahce’s home ground on July 30, and Mourinho is expecting a packed stadium.
“I’m looking forward to a full stadium next Tuesday. Let’s give Lugano a warm reception. They’ll enjoy the atmosphere, no doubt,” said Mourinho with a hint of sarcasm.
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