Latest news with #Dzeko
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Premier League duo refuse to play for Mourinho in final game for Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce were without Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic for the final game of the Super Lig season and the pair had to receive their departing gifts in the stadium kitchen Edin Dzeko was among two outgoing Fenerbahce stars who refused to play in the final match of the season - instead saying their goodbyes to the club from the kitchen inside the stadium. Dzeko and Dusan Tadic, formerly of Southampton, will both say goodbye to the Turkish club but have opted against running out in the last match. They welcomed Konyaspor on Sunday for a dead-rubber match to finish their Super Lig campaign. The title race has been dominated by Fenerbahce's rivals Galatasaray and Jose Mourinho 's side have had to make do with second spot. Dzeko and Tadic were wary of fan unrest as they prepare to leave the club over the summer. The pair were due to receive commemorative plaques to honour their service to the club on the pitch, but instead they had to receive the gongs in the club kitchen at their stadium as they looked to avoid any backlash from the angry Fenerbahce fanbase. Tadic, who has previously excelled with Ajax, has since confirmed the pair made themselves unavailable to play in the game. He said on social media: "It was a decision we made together with Dzeko not to play in the last match. We didn't want to damage Fenerbahce's image. "The fans have always supported us. The way we said goodbye is not a problem for me. I would have preferred it to be in the stadium, but the ambience is not very good at the moment. That's why it's better to be that way." Fenerbahce's domestic frustration continues and, whilst being competitive, they've struggled to land silverware. Despite concern over Mourinho's future it has now been confirmed that the Special One will remain in Istanbul for the second year of his contract. He said on Monday: "If you ask me if I'm going to be here next season, I refer to the last [Fenerbahce] president's appearance on TV a couple of weeks ago, where the president said that he wants me to stay and he is counting on me to stay for the next season. "That is public. That's it. I think he was clear. If anything changes from that day, I was not told. I can confirm that these words were exactly the same words that I was told when we met. So that for me is a very clear situation." Fenerbahce president Ali Koç said he wanted Mourinho to continue "for stability".
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Jose Mourinho's ugly first season in Turkey ends in anger as two ex-Premier League stars REFUSE to play in Fenerbahce's last game of the season and leave the club after goodbyes in the training ground kitchen
Two former Premier League stars refused to play for Jose Mourinho in Fenerbahce's final game of the season on Saturday. Fenerbahce faced Konyaspor at home in their last league game having secured second place in the table after failing to mount a significant challenge to Galatasaray in the title race. But two of their senior players missed the game, and it has now emerged that they made themselves unavailable to play. Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic were due to be given commemorative plaques after announcing that they will leave the club this summer, but they decided they did not want a ceremony at the stadium due to fears over fan unrest. Fenerbahce supporters showed their anger towards their players following a match earlier this month, and there were concerns the same could happen again on Saturday. Instead, Dzeko and Tadic opted to say their goodbyes in the training ground kitchen. The ceremony was attended by their team-mates, club president Ali Koc and vice-president Acun Ilicali. Sporting director Mario Branco and four coaches from manager Mourinho's team also bid farewell ahead of leaving the club this summer. Galatasaray held their own farewell ceremony at their stadium for departing stars Fernando Muslera and Dries Mertens on Saturday, leading to Fenerbahce fans reacting angrily to not getting the chance to say their own goodbyes to Dzeko and Tadic. Tadic subsequently released a statement to explain why he and Dzeko had not turned up to the stadium for the final game. The statement read: 'It was a decision we made together with Dzeko not to play in the last match. We didn't want to damage Fenerbahce's image. 'The fans have always supported us. The way he said goodbye is not a problem for me. I would have preferred it to be in the stadium, but the ambiance is not very good at the moment. That's why it's better to be that way.' Fenerbahce beat Konyaspor 2-1 as they finished the season on 84 points, 11 adrift of Galatasaray. They end the campaign trophyless, while also waving goodbye to Dzeko and Tadic. Dzeko, who previously played 189 matches for Manchester City, finishes with 46 goals in 99 games for Fenerbahce. Ex-Southampton forward Tadic scored 29 goals in 109 appearances for Fenerbahce. Dzeko and Tadic failing to make a farewell appearance ends what has been a turbulent first season in Turkey for Mourinho. The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss was accused of making racist comments earlier this season after he claimed Galatasaray players were 'jumping like monkeys' when appealing for decisions to go in their favour. Mourinho denied the allegations, and Fenerbahce launched a lawsuit against Galatasaray as they leapt to their manager's defence. Mourinho was then hit with a three-match ban for pinching the nose of Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk following a feisty Istanbul derby in April. Earlier this week, Mourinho lashed out at Turkish reporters after his team were beaten 4-2 by relegation contenders Hatayspor. The Portuguese boss said: 'In the last seven years, I have played in two European finals. So in the past seven years I have played more European finals than the history of Turkish football together.' The 62-year-old may be proud of his past achievements, but it has been a difficult first season for him in a new country, and now he must prepare for life without Dzeko and Tadic following their abrupt departures.
