12.02.2025 17:24
Fenerbahçe's head coach Jose Mourinho and the team's star player Filip Kostic made highly talked-about statements at the press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League match against Anderlecht, which will be played tomorrow evening.
Fenerbahçe, ahead of their match against Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa League Play-Off round, held a press conference at Ülker Stadium where player Filip Kostic and head coach José Mourinho made statements.
First to speak, Kostic stated that the match would be challenging, saying, "Tomorrow will be a tough match, we will be playing against a good opponent. We need to be ready from the first minute. We are ready to take the field. I couldn't be listed in the league phase because I joined the team late. I would have liked to be there to help the team, but I am happy to be making my first European appearance with Fenerbahçe. As a team, we can achieve a lot together. We shouldn't focus on the final right now; we need to think step by step, match by match. I am thinking positively; we have a good team, but we need to work very hard. This team has a mentality of winning everything," he said.
MOURINHO: 180 MINUTE PERIOD
Portuguese head coach José Mourinho answered questions from the press. He stated that he sees the UEFA Europa League Play-Off round as a series of 180 minutes, saying, "Therefore, it doesn't matter whether we play at home or away. There is no such thing as a good result for tomorrow. What matters is to have progressed after the second match. I am usually very relaxed in the first matches because the decisive ones are the second matches," he said.
Regarding the injuries in the team, Mourinho stated, "A lot of people talk about this issue, but most do it without knowing. Compared to last season, there are 50% fewer injuries in the team in February. Most of the current injuries are occurring in defense, which draws people's attention. If the injured players were defenders, wingers, or midfielders, no one would pay as much attention. No one can touch the people I work with. They may have been thrown into a fire in the past, but during my time, if there is a fire, I will throw water on it," he said. Mourinho emphasized that injuries do not have a single cause, stating, "Players are running more, they are running more intensely. There can be multiple reasons for injuries. Cold weather, the pitch, and fatigue can all affect this," he said.
ICARDI'S COMMENT BECAME AGENDA
In response to a question about Galatasaray's Argentine player Mauro Icardi's comments about him, Mourinho said, "I have shown that I am a special person with the 26 trophies I have won in 25 years. One match does not define my career. I don't want to comment on Icardi because he is a 'GOAT' (Greatest of All Time)," he replied.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE MOTIVATION AND FOOTBALL IN TURKEY
Speaking about the motivation in the UEFA Europa League, Mourinho said, "Can there be a greater motivation than a qualifying match? We went through a tough league phase in Europe. We had many injuries. We played difficult matches against Lyon and Midtjylland. We succeeded dramatically. There is nothing more beautiful than the qualifying phase. It will be a process where every detail, where emotions are intense, is important. There is no greater motivation than this," he said.
When reminded of Fenerbahçe's former coach Jorge Jesus's comments about the Super League, stating that 'the Turkish league is a toxic league,' Mourinho said, "It depends on how you look at the situation. If you are happy with the current situation, then yes, I am causing harm. But if you are not happy with the current situation and do not want your children to grow up with it, you would do the opposite. I work for Fenerbahçe, and I also work for this country. I earn money here, but I am working in a wonderful country where millions of people love football. There has been a long-standing situation, and those who are happy with it may think I am causing harm. However, those who are not happy with it may think that the impact I create abroad is helpful," he stated. The first match of the UEFA Europa League Play-Off round between Fenerbahçe and Anderlecht will be played tomorrow at Ülker Stadium.