Mourinho: Benfica won’t be happy to play Fenerbahçe in CL playoff | OneFootball

Fenerbahçe 5-2 Feyenoord (6-4 agg)

José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe staged an impressive comeback to overcome Dutch side Feyenoord and set up a meeting with Benfica in the UEFA Champions League qualification playoff round. With new signing Nélson Semedo shining on the night, Fener recovered from conceding the opener to steal the spoils on an entertaining evening in Istanbul.

As he prepares his men for a meeting against his former club, Mourinho analysed the victory over Feyenoord, while stating that the home crowd in Türkiye is a vital component in Fener’s progress.

Things were not looking good for Mourinho’s side as the second leg edged towards half time on Tuesday evening. Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s header from a free-kick on 41 minutes gave visitors Feyenoord a 1-0 lead on the night, meaning a 3-1 advantage on aggregate. The goal felt pivotal, with many believing it would be tough for Fener to come back from the deficit.

However, within minutes the tie turned around, with defender Archibald Brown and new forward recruit Jhon Durán scoring just moments apart to give the hosts a 2-1 lead at the break. A stunning third by midfielder Fred put Fener ahead in the tie early in the second half, followed by a clincher from Portugal’s World Cup nemesis Youssef En-Nesyri. Watanabe struck again in the 89th minute to threatened a recovery by the Dutch, but ex-Benfica man Talisca made it safe in injury time.

“I think the crowd was decisive [tonight] because last season if we were losing 0-1 and 1-3 on aggregate, the stadium would be completely different,” Mourinho said after the match. “The players would be completely different too. So I think the positive feeling even when losing 3-1 was the difference compared to last season.

“After that, the game was open all the time. The first goal we conceded was ridiculous. Then İrfan Eğribayat’s save from Borges, 1v1, comes in a crucial moment because it would be 2-2. So it was a fantastic save in a crucial moment. Then it was our power, our way of playing. We adapt with the players that we have, with the players we don’t have.

“We cannot play as Feyenoord does, we don’t have players with the same profile as they do. But we have very powerful strikers, very aggressive in space, very aggressive on crosses. The midfield players work so much, the defensive line was solid, but honestly we have to be better in moments of difficulty, like the second goal. We cannot suffer and drop so much.

“But I understand, it’s the beginning of the season, it’s fatigue – one week ago Nélson [Semedo] was on holiday. But in the end, I think we got what we deserved. Also because in the match in Rotterdam I think we deserved a bit more than the defeat. So I think the best team overall won.”

Benfica a giant club

Mourinho was then asked about previous comments, in which he said his side were more of a Europa League team than a Champions League team. “You must learn to interpret my words,” he replied. “When I say we are not a Champions League team, I’m not saying we cannot play in the Champions League, I’m saying we cannot win the Champions League. Nobody can blame me if I say that if Fenerbahce goes to the Champions League, it’s an impossible mission to win it.

“When Fenerbahce is in the Europa League, it’s possible to win it. Last season we lost on penalties [in the last 16] we were not far; we were almost in the quarter finals. So that is the interpretation of my words.

“But yes, we can play in the Champions League and there are many teams in the Champions League we can beat. But the next [opponent] is a giant club. It’s a giant club with the second leg in Lisbon. A team that spent an incredible amount of money to make the team stronger. So of course it’s going to be a giant mission. But, let’s enjoy the first match at home and see what we can do.”

Benfica won’t be happy – Mourinho

Mourinho was asked if he felt his team are ready to play in Europe’s premier club competition, while also being quizzed over whether he felt his team had been sufficiently strengthened during the summer transfer window to compete against the Eagles across two legs for a place in the Champions League later this month.

“I’ve played more than 150 matches in the Champions League, so I’m ready to play Champions League,” he said. “If some of the players have never played, I think it’s a target for every player. So yes, we are ready to play. The club is eager to play. We know that economically it’s important, we know that in terms of prestige it’s important. But, we play against big teams. We play Feyenoord, and now we play Benfica. So it’s not an easy play-off.

“But, I think honestly Benfica is not happy. I think they would prefer Feyenoord. They know that we are stronger than Feyenoord. They know that it’s not going to be easy for them. So let’s go. I want to play. The fans want to play. The players want to play. Let’s go.

“Is the squad enough? No. For the playoff, it’s what we have. If you have the mentality of missing this or that, you don’t focus. We focus. These are the players that we have. And most probably, these are the players that we have against Benfica.

“We are a very strong family. Like I said already, we have had this feeling from our Portuguese [pre-season] training camp. We are a clean dressing room, very clean. So we are together. So then if we are able to get one or two players to make the squad stronger, then good. If we don’t have, we don’t have. We are not going to cry or to moan. But if you ask me if our squad is complete according to our idea, it’s missing something. But if we don’t get, we don’t get. No problem.”