Fenerbahce head coach, Jose Mourinho, is set to undergo surgery in Portugal during the Christmas holidays to address a health concern.
The 61-year-old will have his gallbladder removed, according to reports.
Mourinho, known for his stints at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, reassured fans in an Instagram post, stating, “Happy Christmas and thank you so much for so many messages.”
Following Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw with Eyupspor before the break, Mourinho described the procedure as “minor” without delving into specifics.
He wrote, “For those of you that have shown concern, I can confirm reports of my surgery have been greatly exaggerated. It’s just a quick and minor procedure. I will resume training on the first day back from the holidays, as always. I’ve never missed a session in 25 years, and I don’t intend to start now.”
Despite the setback, Mourinho remains optimistic about Fenerbahce’s chances of winning the Super Lig title.
The team currently sits in second place, trailing Galatasaray by eight points. Their next match is scheduled for Jan. 5, when they host Hatayspor.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Mourinho admitted the break wouldn’t be a particularly joyful one, but not because of the surgery.
“We will have a few days off, but it will not be a happy time off for me,” he said. “Actually, I would prefer not to have this time off, but we promised the players long ago. Many players could not take more than 10 days off. Therefore, this was an important situation for them to rest. We have to do better.”
Mourinho, who took charge of Fenerbahce in the summer, is determined to end the club’s decade-long wait for a league title.
“Nobody is going to convince me that even with the distance that we have with the leaders we don’t have a chance to win [the title],” he stated. “I refuse to think this way. For me, it’s still open.”
