Jose Mourinho expressed his willingness to coach any English team at the bottom of the table for two years after his side’s Europa League draw with Manchester United.

Former Manchester United and Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has declared his openness to managing any team at the bottom of the English Premier League for two years.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports following his team’s draw with Manchester United in the Europa League, the Portuguese manager stated,

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“The best thing I have to do is when I leave Fenerbahce, I go to a club that doesn’t play in the UEFA competition. So, if any club in England from the bottom of the table needs a coach in two years, I’m ready to go.”

Mourinho vented his frustration after being shown a red card during the match, where he disputed the referee’s decision. He remarked on the referee’s ability to monitor multiple situations simultaneously, saying,

“He told me that at the same time he could see the action in the box and my behavior on the touchline. I congratulate him because he is absolutely incredible, his peripheral vision.

During the game, 100 mph, he had one eye on the penalty situation and one eye on the bench and my behaviour. So that’s the explanation he gave me. That’s why he’s one of the best referees in the world.”

The incident followed Mourinho’s previous four-game European ban for verbally abusing a referee during Roma’s Europa League final loss to Sevilla in May 2023.

He referenced this past incident when explaining why he would not appeal his recent red card: “If I appeal, I will get six months. Since the Sevilla-Roma final there is nothing to do.”

In the match against Manchester United, Fenerbahce initially fell behind to a goal from Christian Eriksen in the 15th minute but equalised in the 49th minute through Youssef En-Nesyri, who scored from close range following a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin. Despite the draw, Mourinho felt his team deserved more from the game.

“It would be fair to say that we did an extraordinary match and we were better than them, so a good result for Man United. My boys played an amazing match.

We played against a team that is at a superior level to us. We finished the game with a centre-back playing at right-back and a right-back at left-back.

We had to do a crazy puzzle, but our performance was extraordinary, and I couldn’t ask for anything more from the players,” he commented.

Mourinho previously led Manchester United to win the Europa League in 2017 and took the Fenerbahce job this past offseason.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen intensifies after his impressive start at Galatasaray, where he has scored three goals and four assists in five games.

Chelsea Football Club continues to show interest in Victor Osimhen, despite a failed attempt to sign the Nigerian striker during the summer transfer window, which ultimately saw him join Galatasaray on loan from Napoli.

The Blues’ desire for the 25-year-old forward has intensified following his stellar performances in Turkey, where he has already netted three goals and provided four assists in just five appearances for the Turkish champions.

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His impressive form has not gone unnoticed, and Stamford Bridge remains his preferred destination.

Osimhen expressed his disappointment after Chelsea’s initial offer for his services was deemed insufficient, leading him to accept the loan move to Galatasaray.

However, the club’s ongoing interest suggests that they may be willing to make a more competitive bid in the future.

Several former Chelsea stars, including Mikel Obi and Didier Drogba, have also voiced their enthusiasm for Osimhen in Chelsea colours, believing that a transfer could materialise sooner rather than later.

Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson weighed in on the speculation, emphasising that it would be a missed opportunity for the club not to pursue Osimhen. Speaking to Betfred, Johnson remarked, ”

I like [Nicolas] Jackson a lot, but as I’ve said previously, I don’t know if he’s the type of forward that’s going to get you 15 to 20 goals a season. Osimhen going on loan to Galatasaray was crazy when you consider all the interest in him in the summer.”

He further stated, “Considering that he is available, then I do believe that Chelsea need to get him. Signing Osimhen could even push Jackson to improve because he will have to fight for his place. It would be crazy for Chelsea to not try and sign Victor Osimhen.”

As the romance between Osimhen and Galatasaray flourishes, with the club reportedly contemplating making his loan deal permanent at the end of the season, Chelsea remains alert to the situation.

With Napoli reportedly increasing their asking price for Osimhen following a deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, the pressure is on Chelsea to act swiftly if they wish to secure the talented striker.

Currently, Chelsea sits sixth in the Premier League standings after a recent defeat to leaders Liverpool, highlighting a pressing need for attacking reinforcements to enhance their goal-scoring capabilities.

As the transfer landscape continues to shift, Chelsea’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen could become one of the key narratives in the upcoming transfer window.

CAF is set to announce its decision on the controversial AFCON qualifier between Libya and Nigeria, with Nigeria pushing for heavy sanctions against Libya.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to deliver its ruling today on the controversial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualifying match between Libya and Nigeria, which was originally scheduled to take place on 15 October at Benina Martyrs Stadium, Benina.

The match had already faced a series of logistical challenges, having been moved from Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi to the smaller 10,000-capacity Benina Martyrs Stadium, just 10 kilometres away, at the last minute.

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This change came after Libya’s 1-0 loss to Nigeria in the first leg, held at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo three days earlier.

The Nigerian national team’s journey to Libya was fraught with difficulties. The flight carrying the Super Eagles was unexpectedly diverted by Libyan authorities, forcing the plane to land at Al-Abraq Airport, far from the intended destination.

The team was held at the airport for nearly 18 hours without food or water, leaving them exhausted and malnourished by the time they returned to Nigeria on the following Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) promptly lodged a complaint with CAF, citing inhumane treatment and requesting disciplinary action. As a result, CAF suspended the match and referred the case to its Disciplinary Committee.

On Tuesday, CAF’s Executive Committee held a hearing with representatives from both sides during its meeting in Ethiopia, with a decision to be announced today.

Abdul Hakim Al-Shalmani, President of the Libyan Football Association, defended Libya’s actions, stating that the Libyan team had faced similar challenges in Nigeria but still played and lost the match.

Al-Shalmani also emphasised Libya’s warm reception of other African teams, using recent matches between Sudan and Ghana at Benina Stadium as examples.

From the Nigerian side, former NFF President and current FIFA member Amaju Pinnick presented several accusations against Libya, supported by fellow CAF Executive Committee members, including Augustin Senghor from Senegal, Seidou Mbombo Njoya from Cameroon, and Isha Johansen from Sierra Leone.

As the football world awaits CAF’s ruling, Nigerian football stakeholders are united in their belief that Libya should face heavy sanctions.

Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s case, particularly citing the diversion of the Nigerian team’s flight as a violation of aviation rules and an act of retaliation by Libya.

Baribote added, “CAF must clamp down heavily on Libya, as their actions amounted to slavery and inhuman treatment, which the African Charter condemns.”

David Doherty, a UK-based football administrator and NFF presidential candidate, also weighed in, stating, “CAF should impose sanctions on Libya or a significant fine, with the condition that all their future matches be played outside of Libya.”

Other Nigerian football fans shared similar sentiments. One fan, Kazeem Anjorin, stressed the need for CAF to take decisive action to prevent such incidents from happening again, ensuring accountability and fairness in African football.

As anticipation builds, the outcome of CAF’s decision will determine whether the match will be rescheduled or if Libya will face penalties, including the possibility of forfeiting the three points to Nigeria.