Jose Mourinho, the manager of Fenerbahce, voiced his displeasure after his team was knocked out of the Champions League by Lille in the third qualifying round. Fenerbahce’s elimination means they will compete in the Europa League this season instead.
In a tense two-legged contest, Fenerbahce was defeated 3-2 on aggregate. The decisive moment came when Lille scored a penalty deep into extra time, just as the match seemed headed for a penalty shootout.
Following the match, Mourinho spoke to the media with a sense of frustration. He said, “We can do very well in the Europa League, but if… I prefer not to continue with this sentence. Because if I say it, I will get into trouble.” This comment hinted at his dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions during the game.
Mourinho also remarked on the controversial penalty, stating, “It’s better not to talk about the penalty. When I look at other incidents that have happened to me recently. Only the referee knows why it was a penalty, only the VAR knows.”
He criticized the referee’s decisions and the lack of early yellow cards, which he believes could have altered the course of the game.
