- Besiktas beat Fenerbahce 1-0
- Mourinho fuming after loss
- Solskjaer made tongue-in-cheek remark
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Solskjaer had the last laugh over Jose Mourinho as Besiktas edged past Fenerbahce with a hard-fought 1-0 win in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday. Besiktas’ surprise triumph came courtesy of Gedson Fernandes, whose decisive strike just before the interval proved enough to seal all three points and send a clear message to their city rivals.
While Mourinho was left visibly irritated by the result, his comments after the game suggested he still believed his side was superior. "If we played them ten times, we’d win eight," Mourinho insisted. "They’d only beat us once, and the other would end in a draw."
Solskjaer, who is never short on subtle humour, couldn’t resist a cheeky reply. "Looks like they’ll be winning the next eight," he told reporters.
The two managers share a storied history, with Solskjaer stepping in as Manchester United boss following Mourinho’s departure in 2018. Fast forward to 2025, and both now find themselves at the helm of Turkish giants battling for pride in one of football’s most passionate derby environments. Despite the subtle jab, there was no animosity in the air between the two seasoned managers. Mourinho played down any notion of a grudge, explaining that their interactions were courteous.
"Ole is here for a few months," said Mourinho "He is experienced and intelligent enough to learn what he has to learn. I am nobody to give him advice. We spoke in the tunnel before the game. It was normal things two guys who respect each other but have to play a match say to each other. After it was the same.
"We are experienced enough for him not to be on the moon because he won, just as I am not in hell because I lost a derby. We respect each other well. I think we like each other too. I would say that."
AFPWith only four games remaining, Galatasaray hold a commanding eight-point lead over Fenerbahce at the top of the table. The timing of the derby defeat could not have been worse for Mourinho, who knows that any further slip-ups could hand Galatasaray the crown. Mourinho will now turn his attention to their upcoming clash with Istanbul Basaksehir on May 9, knowing that nothing short of victory will keep their fading title challenge alive.