Fenerbahce narrowly avoided humiliation in Jose Mourinho’s first match as manager against Lugano in a Champions League qualifier. The Turkish giants fell behind after just four minutes, raising fears of an embarrassing exit. However, former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko saved the day by scoring the equalizer before half-time from the penalty spot. He then scored his second goal just one minute into the second half. Despite worries as Lugano equalized in the 64th minute, Dzeko and Ferdi Kadiolu gave Fenerbahce a two-goal buffer ahead of the final 20 minutes. The game ended 4-3 with a late goal from Milton Valenzuela. Dzeko finished the game with a hat-trick, marking the start of his 22nd season as a professional footballer.
The tie is not settled yet, as Fenerbahce still needs to host Lugano at home in the second leg. The game will take place on July 30 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. If Fenerbahce secures a positive result, they will still need to navigate the third qualifying round and play-off round to secure a spot in the Champions League league phase.
Jose Mourinho was hired by Fenerbahce in June after being unemployed since getting sacked from Roma in January. He has signed a deal that will run until 2026, with an option for a further season. Mourinho will have familiar faces in his dressing room at Fenerbahce, as there are six players in the squad who previously played in the Premier League. These players include Edin Dzeko, who was Manchester City’s club captain from 2011 to 2016 and scored 72 goals in 189 appearances. Michy Batshuayi, who arrived at Chelsea with much fanfare in 2016 but struggled to find consistent success with several loan spells. Fred, who joined Manchester United as a Brazilian holding midfielder but had a disappointing five years at the club. Dusan Tadic, who enjoyed four seasons at Southampton before moving to Ajax. Ryan Kent, who made one FA Cup appearance for Liverpool before joining Rangers in 2019. And Cengiz Under, who had a disappointing loan spell at Leicester City in the 2020-21 season from Roma.
Overall, Mourinho’s first match with Fenerbahce was a rollercoaster, with moments of worry and relief. The team will need to maintain their focus and performance in the second leg against Lugano to secure their place in the Champions League league phase. With Mourinho’s experience and the presence of former Premier League players in the squad, Fenerbahce has the potential to make a strong impact in the competition.