Two former Manchester United men locked horns in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and Jose Mourinho came out on the losing side.
Manchester United’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur means Ruben Amorim has no European action this season.
Returning to the Champions League is the goal for United, though it’s unclear just how long that will take.
Champions League qualifiers are taking place right now, with Ineos-owned Nice falling to a 2-0 defeat against Benfica.
One clash saw two former United men battle it out on Wednesday night, as Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord hosted Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
Feyenoord v Fenerbahce - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Agit Erdi Ulukaya/Anadolu via Getty Images
Jose Mourinho in danger of Champions League exit
Van Persie and Mourinho never actually crossed paths at United, as the Dutch striker departed just a year before Mourinho’s arrival.
The pair were enemies in the dugout on Wednesday night as Mourinho’s Fenerbahce made the trip to Rotterdam.
Van Persie became Feyenoord boss earlier this year and has made an encouraging start to life in charge of his boyhood club.
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Reaching the Champions League league phase would be a major step in Van Persie’s development as a coach, and he secured an important win over Mourinho.
Feyenoord went ahead in the first half, as Mert Muldur diverted Quinten Timber’s goal-bound shot into his own net.
Former United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat appeared to rescue a draw, smashing home a powerful strike to bring Fenerbahce level late on.
Amrabat is a former Feyenoord man himself, and he appeared reluctant to celebrate despite the importance of his goal.
There was another twist in the tale, though, as Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj-Moussa headed home in injury time to spark wild celebrations at De Kuip.
Feyenoord take a 2-1 lead into the second leg in Türkiye, with Van Persie halfway towards dumping Mourinho out of the Champions League.
Pressure on Jose Mourinho this season
Fenerbahce came so close to winning the Super Lig title in the 2023-24 season, losing just one game from 38 and finishing three points behind bitter rivals Galatasaray.
Mourinho was then appointed to replace Ismail Kartal, despite falling just three points short of top spot.
The idea was to bring in a big name in Mourinho and really push Galatasaray even harder, but that didn’t quite materialise.
Fenerbahce finished 11 points behind champions Galatasaray, and Mourinho failed to win a single league game against Galatasaray or Besiktas.
Mourinho has been backed again this summer, snapping up Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar and Archie Brown, while taking United-linked striker Jhon Duran on loan.
Fenerbahce need to close that gap to Galatasaray this season, but crashing out of the Champions League before the league phase would only serve to put more pressure on Mourinho to pick up results.