Fenerbahce, under the management of Jose Mourinho, has failed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Lille on Tuesday.
The Turkish club’s exit marks a disappointing start to Mourinho’s tenure, as he aims to lead the team to their first Turkish title since 2014.
Jonathan David’s penalty in extra time proved to be the decisive factor in the tie, which saw Fenerbahce lose the first leg 2-1 last week.
Despite Bafode Diakite’s late own goal sending the game to extra time, Fenerbahce was unable to overcome the deficit.
Lille has advanced to the final qualifying round, where they will face either Slavia Prague or Union Saint-Gilloise.
Fenerbahce’s elimination marks a significant setback for Mourinho, who was appointed as the club’s manager earlier this year.
Mourinho’s failure to qualify Fenerbahce for the Champions League group stage highlights the challenges he faces in his new role. The Portuguese manager will need to regroup and refocus his team’s efforts on domestic success, as they seek to win their first Turkish title in eight years.
