Jose Mourinho (foto: Uradni facebook profil kluba)
Jose Mourinho took a pointed swipe at his former club, Tottenham Hotspur while discussing Fenerbahce's Champions League qualification draw.
The Portuguese manager, who previously led Spurs for 18 months, made his comments in response to questions about Fenerbahce's journey through the Champions League 2024-25 season qualification rounds.
The draw, which took place on Monday, revealed that Fenerbahce could face Slavia Prague or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the play-off round if they advance past Lille in their third-round tie. Mourinho, who managed Tottenham before being dismissed just before the League Cup final against Manchester City in 2021, seemed to use the opportunity to subtly criticize his former club.
In his address to the media, the 61-year-old said: “This is not the first time for me, it is the second time. I sometimes forget about Tottenham, that I played with them in the qualifiers. This is the second time this has happened to me, but it's the first time I'm starting the season in a summer month when there is a European Championship and a World Cup.”
He continued, “This makes our job twice as difficult. It is difficult because you are playing official matches and the players from the European Championship return to the team in different periods. We have now carried out 40 training sessions, maybe we were able to work as a full squad in a maximum of ten. They joined the team step by step, which made our job difficult. But this is the situation we are in.”
Mourinho emphasized his focus on the upcoming challenges: “I don’t like making excuses; I always prefer to concentrate on the next match. Tomorrow, our team and the players will be better off except for Fred's absence. We are motivated for this match. Sometimes they ask, ‘What is your motivation for the season, being in the Champions League or winning the league?’ I always say the same thing: ‘My motivation is always the next match.’”
Fenerbahce will next be seen in action on Tuesday night, facing Ligue 1 side Lille in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie. The outcome of this match will determine their progress to the play-off round where they could face significant European competition.