Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce is set to secure a place in the last 16 of the Europa League when they take on Anderlecht on Thursday. The Portuguese manager aims for a sixth European trophy to add to his illustrious coaching career.
Entering the second leg of their knockout play-off tie with a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first match last week in Istanbul, Fenerbahce will be buoyed by goals from Dusan Tadic, captain Edin Dzeko, and Youssef En-Nesyri.
Provided they can avoid a dramatic setback in Brussels, they will progress to the next round to face either Rangers or Greek powerhouses Olympiakos, with the opponent being determined in Friday’s draw.
At 62 years of age, Mourinho was appointed by the Istanbul club at the start of the season, taking charge of the team situated on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
He is tasked with dethroning fierce rivals Galatasaray and clinching Fenerbahce’s first Turkish title since 2014.
However, the domestic situation appears challenging, as Fenerbahce currently sits second in the league, six points adrift of unbeaten Galatasaray after 23 matches.
Despite losing only two Super Lig matches—3-1 at home against Galatasaray in September and 1-0 to fellow Istanbul rivals Besiktas in December—Fenerbahce’s focus may understandably be diverted to their upcoming intercontinental derby against Galatasaray on Monday.
Nonetheless, achieving success in European competition would mark a significant milestone for Mourinho, especially after his team was knocked out of this season’s Champions League during the qualifying rounds.
Historically, Fenerbahce has never reached a European final, with Galatasaray’s UEFA Cup win in 2000 remaining the sole international title for a Turkish club.
Mourinho boasts a squad rich in talent, featuring seasoned players like Tadic and Dzeko, alongside Moroccan forward En-Nesyri and French winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
The winter transfer window also saw Slovakia centre-back and captain Milan Skriniar joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, several heavyweights are already in the mix for the last 16, including Mourinho’s former clubs Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Athletic Club, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Lazio.
Mourinho’s accolades include winning the UEFA Cup and Champions League with Porto, and another Champions League title with Inter Milan. He also guided Manchester United to Europa League victory in 2017 and clinched the Europa Conference League with Roma in 2022.
In stark contrast, Galatasaray faces an uphill battle to progress as they trail AZ Alkmaar 4-1 after last week’s first leg in the Netherlands.
Check out all the fixtures for the Europa League knockout phase playoffs here.
View all the fixtures for the Conference League knockout phase playoffs here.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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