Latest Manchester United news and gossip as Jose Mourinho is beaten by a former United striker in a Champions League qualifier
Robin van Persie of Feyenoord and Jose Mourinho of Fenerbahce
Robin van Persie of Feyenoord and Jose Mourinho of Fenerbahce
(Image: Agit Erdi Ulukaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Former Manchester United star Robin van Persie got the better of Jose Mourinho as the pair went head-to-head in the dugout.
Van Persie was appointed as manager of Feyenoord back in February to replace former boss Brian Priske. The former United striker has ex-Reds assistant manager Rene Hake as part of his coaching staff at the Eredivisie outfit, having worked under Erik ten Hag during his time at Old Trafford.
Wednesday night saw Feyenoord take on Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. The clash saw Van Persie take on Mourinho, who has been in charge of the Turkish club since June last year.
Mourinho had a two-and-a-half-year spell as United manager from 2016-18, and has since taken charge of Tottenham Hotspur and Roma before being named as Fenerbahce's new boss a year ago. The pair went head-to-head at the Feyenoord Stadium and it was the former United striker who emerged victorious.
Feyenoord claimed a 2-1 victory on home soil in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier. Anis Hadj-Moussa scored the winning goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time to hand the Eredivisie outfit and Van Persie the advantage heading into the second leg next week.
Mourinho was still confident that he and Fenerbahce could overturn the deficit despite losing the first leg to Van Persie and Feyenoord.
"We don't need to win 3-0, 4-0, we need to win by one goal, and then we have extra time," Mourinho told reporters in his post-match press conference.
"I'm not saying that it's easy, I'm not saying that we are going to do it 100%, football is football. I respect the guys [Feyenoord] of course. But the feeling is, is that we can."
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