AFCON 2025
Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran has launched a scathing criticism of former manager Jose Mourinho, accusing the Portuguese tactician of leaving the team ill-prepared for the new season.
Saran claimed that during Fenerbahce’s pre-season camp in Portugal, Mourinho scheduled only one training session per day, which he described as “unacceptable” for a club with their ambitions.
According to the president, this lack of intensity in preparation has had a lasting negative impact on the squad’s physical and tactical readiness.
“The players returned from Portugal far from their best condition. We are still paying the price for that today,” Saran was quoted as saying.
Saran explained that the preseason period, which ran from July 15 to July 27, was crucial in preparing Fenerbahce for what was meant to be a title-chasing campaign.
Instead, the team struggled early, suffering elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Benfica and stumbling out of the gate in the Turkish Super Lig.
“When the new transfers arrived, Mourinho was still in charge,” Saran added.
“Five weeks later, he left to join Benfica—after what was already a very poor preseason period, whose effects we are still seeing.”
Domenico Tedesco took over from Mourinho, but the Italian has managed just three wins from his first seven games.
