Jose Mourinho’s hopes of guiding Fenerbahce into the revamped Champions League were dashed on Tuesday as the Turkish team was eliminated in the third qualifying round by Lille. The French side emerged victorious after a dramatic 3-2 aggregate victory, clinching their passage to the group stages following a tense 1-1 draw in extra time during the second leg in Istanbul.
The match saw Fenerbahce take the lead in the first minute of second-half stoppage time through an own goal from Bafode Diakite, momentarily giving them hope of advancing. However, Lille, who had won the first leg 2-1, ultimately secured their place in the Champions League group stages thanks to a crucial penalty conversion in the 118th minute by Jonathan David.
Mourinho’s arrival at Fenerbahce in June on a hefty $11 million annual salary had ignited hopes of a successful campaign. The Portuguese manager, known for his trophy-laden career, was aiming to deliver Fenerbahce’s first Turkish league title since 2014 and secure their place in the expanded 36-team Champions League, a tournament he previously conquered with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
Despite Mourinho’s experience and reputation, Fenerbahce’s journey in the Champions League has come to an early end. Lille’s resilience and the decisive moment of David’s penalty proved to be the defining factors in their victory, leaving Mourinho’s ambitions for the prestigious tournament in tatters.
