Jose Mourinho expects to remain with Fenerbahce next season, despite pressure mounting after the club’s recent performances.
Mourinho signed a two-year contract with the Turkish Super Lig giants in 2024, but could not guide them to the league title during his maiden season, despite winning 34 of his 55 games in charge across all competitions (61.82%).
Fenerbahce, who conclude their campaign at home to Konyaspor on Saturday, are set to finish second behind champions Galatasaray.
The Yellow Canaries are 11 points adrift of their rivals, and discontent has grown among supporters following the team’s displays in recent weeks.
“If you ask me if I’m going to be here next season, I refer to the last [Fenerbahce] president’s appearance on TV a couple of weeks ago, where the president said that he wants me to stay, and he is counting on me to stay for the next season,” Mourinho said.
“That is public. That’s it. I think he was clear. If anything changes from that day, I was not told. I can confirm that these words were exactly the same words that I was told when we met. So that, for me, is a very clear situation.
“The disappointment regarding these last performances. It’s painful for everybody.
“It’s only people that don’t understand what people are like, what the end of the season is like. The motivation is not the same, but I don’t accept that people think that players don’t care.”
MS | A. Hatayspor 4-2 Fenerbahçe pic.twitter.com/VjPqqYFmlH
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) May 26, 2025
The second-place finish means Fenerbahce will have to come through two qualifying rounds to book their place in next season’s Champions League proper.
Mourinho’s side were beaten by Lille in the third qualifying round this season, and the two-time Champions League winner hopes to put his side in the best possible shape to return to Europe’s premier club competition.
“We tried to qualify for the Champions League with Fenerbahce last summer,” he added. “We lost that possibility with a penalty from Lille in the 120th minute.
“You ask me if I prefer to play in the Champions League rather than the Europa League, Conference League. Yes, but not just me, every club, every coach, every player.
“Next summer, we have qualification again for the Champions League. We have to prepare ourselves the best we can.”
