Jose Mourinho aims astonishing new dig at Turkish football after Fenerbahce slump to 4-2 defeat at Hatayspor as frustrated coach also drops big hint on his future

Enigmatic Portuguese coach Mourinho is destined to end the 2024-25 campaign empty-handed in Istanbul. He has seen arch-rivals Galatasaray claim the Super Lig title, while Europa League heartache was endured at the last-16 stage against Rangers.

Mourinho, who famously billed himself as ‘The Special One’ at Chelsea, has grown accustomed to toasting trophy triumphs in any given campaign. Questions are inevitably being asked of whether he still has it in him to win more.

The 62-year-old has snapped back at that suggestion, pointing to his impressive CV when saying in the wake of a 4-2 defeat to Hatayspor: “In the last seven years, I’ve played in more European finals than Turkish football has in its entire history. With Fenerbahce, we even fought for a spot in last season’s Champions League, but the summer was tough for us. We were knocked out in the final moments - on a penalty.

“Next summer, we’ll fight to reach the Champions League [again]. We need to go through qualification and play-offs. We must prepare as best as possible for those matches.”

It has been suggested that Mourinho may be tempted to walk away from a testing spell in Turkey, but he has offered no indication that a contract through to 2026 will be broken. He added on his future: “Whether something is true or not, or even half-true — it didn’t come from me. I have no contact with the press and never disclose any meetings with the president or the board.

“I can show you an interview our president gave a few weeks ago. In it, he asked me to stay. The president trusts me — that’s well known. If the situation has changed, I haven’t been informed.”

Mourinho has won Champions League, Europa League and Conference League honours over the course of his managerial career, making history in the process, and has also claimed domestic titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.