'I can't speak more': Mourinho frustrated after demotion to Europa League | OneFootball

José Mourinho has reached the top of Europe in the past, but that chance has slipped away from him on Tuesday.

The 61-year-old manager returned to football after six months away when he joined Fenerbahçe in June. However, the Turkish giants were eliminated from the Champions League after losing their third-round qualifier to Lille.

Mourinho’s men grabbed a 91st-minute lead thanks to an own goal but then conceded a penalty against 10-man Lille. Canada’s Jonathan David converted in the 118th minute to see Fenerbahçe demoted to the Europa League.

After the early exit, the manager insisted his side would never have won the title and instead shared his frustrations about playing in the Europa League, notably referring to the final he lost with his former club, Roma.

“We lose economically because the Champions League obviously is an important boost to the club and we lose the chance to play against the biggest teams in the world,” Mourinho said.  “But we would never win the Champions League. We would never reach the Champions League final. Never.”

“But we go to Europa League and in Europa League if… if… I don’t want to say the rest . I prefer to stay on the ifs. But if we can do a great Europa League. If, if, if. But we can do a great Europa League with if. I can’t speak more than the if. If not I am in trouble.”

“If you want to know more about the ifs. I invite you watch Roma-Sevilla in the Europa League final 2022-2023 and you understand the ifs.”

“But as I was saying before, the Champions League would be great for the club, great for the players. But we would never have a chance to, to go very, very far in the competition and the league is more adapted to our level. And I want to inject ambition in the team to do well.”

Fenerbahçe currently sit fourth in the Süper Lig.