Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho said that the 3-1 defeat of his game at home against Rangers in the first stage of their Europa League Last-16 draw was “a good result”.
With the return bone that will be held in Glasgow next Thursday, the Portuguese coach remains convinced that the draw is not nearly over.
“We were very bad everywhere,” Mourinho told TNT Sports after the defeat in Istanbul.
“I don't think it's fair to say that we were defensively bad because we were very bad everywhere.
“Maybe you laugh, but for me it was a good result because of the way we performed. The result could have been greater than this one.”
Rangers made a fast start when Mohamed Diomande came in on a defensive mistake by Sebastian Szymanski and played through Cyriel Dessers, who opened the score within six minutes.
But the home team demolished the half -hour Mark through a wonderful volley from Alexander Djiku.
Full-time: Fenerbahçe 1-3 Rangers
What a team performance in Istanbul.#Uel pic.twitter.com/zzlitfafh5
– Rangers Football Club (@Rangersfc) March 6, 2025
Vaclav Cerny then recovered the lead of Rangers at the end of a quick break before the half -time interval.
Dessers was refused by the offside flag, but Rangers still ended the first stage with a pillow of two goals when Cerny yielded his second with nine minutes.
“Defensively we made incredible, incredible mistakes,” said Mourinho.
“They defend a lot with a very low block and then dangerous counters, and we had no pace to follow that.
“So for me I have to say that we have earned a punishment for this result. If someone wants to ask me if it is over, no, I don't think it's over.”
Ranger's interim boss Barry Ferguson remained careful in the meantime and reminded his players that it is just the peace in the two-legged draw.
“The dedication, the wish, sometimes a part of the football we played was very good,” said Ferguson.
“We have to remember it, it's only the peace in the draw because Fenerbahce has one of the best managers ever.
“We have to be ready for next Thursday and I tell you something, I'll have them ready.”
Malick Fofana
1-3 #fcsbol pic.twitter.com/h6axufu1pi
– Olympique Lyonnais (@OL_english) March 6, 2025
Lyon is in the same position as Rangers after their own 3-1 away victory over FCSB in Bucharest.
After the first half of Nicolas Tagliafico for Lyon in the second half was canceled by Alexandru Baluta by Alexandru Baluta, it seemed that the match was on its way to a stalling until replacement Malick Fofana scored twice in the last five minutes to give the visitors the preview.
It was Lyon's first match, because coach Paulo Fonseca was suspended for almost nine months for his confrontation with a referee.
The 52-year-old may not perform his matchday tasks until November 30 after he pushed his head to referee Benoit Millot during Lyon's 2-1 victory over Brest last weekend.
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