Fenerbahce's decision to fire Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho was due to the Turkish club's desire to play better and more dominant football, according to Fenerbahce President Alic Koc.
Mourinho was officially dismissed on August 29 after his team was eliminated by Benfica 1-0 on aggregate in the Champions League qualifying playoffs. Koc called the decision "painful" but necessary for the team's future.
“It’s hard to say goodbye to someone who was a friend above all else,” Koc was quoted as saying by ESPN.
He added that the defeat against Benfica was not the main problem, but rather the manner in which the team was eliminated that made management worried about a repeat of last season's performance.
Koc believes Mourinho's defensive-focused tactics are hampering the team's potential for more offensive play. He believes Fenerbahçe has an attacking style of play, as evidenced by their 99 goals and 99 points in the 2023/2024 Super Lig season.
