G lasgow Rangers and Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe have both been knocked out of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League campaign, suffering defeats in the qualifying rounds.
Rangers faced a tough challenge in their first-round qualifier, losing 2-0 to Dynamo Kyiv. The match took a critical turn when Rangers defender Jefte received a second yellow card, reducing the team to 10 men. Dynamo Kyiv capitalized on this advantage, scoring two late goals to seal Rangers’ exit from the competition.
Rangers’ coach, Philippe Clement, expressed his frustration with the referee’s decision, which he felt unfairly influenced the outcome. “It’s hard for my team. They don’t deserve this after these two games versus Dynamo Kyiv. One person with one decision made a really big change for us,” Clement lamented, noting that it was only the second time in his 30-year career that he had experienced such an injustice. Despite the setback, he urged his team to focus on the league and the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe also experienced disappointment as they were eliminated from the Champions League by Lille. Despite forcing the match into extra time with a late own goal, Lille ultimately secured a 3-2 aggregate victory, marking a challenging start for Mourinho with the Turkish club.
Mourinho, known for his candid remarks, hinted at his displeasure with the officiating but chose his words carefully to avoid controversy. “We can do very well in the Europa League, but if… I prefer not to continue with this sentence. Because if I say it, I will get into trouble,” he remarked. He also commented on the penalty decision that played a pivotal role in the match, expressing pride in his team’s efforts despite the outcome.
Other notable results from the Champions League qualifiers include Slavia Prague’s 4-1 aggregate win over Union Saint-Gilloise, Sparta Prague’s narrow 4-3 aggregate victory over FCSB, and Qarabag’s dominant 7-2 win over Ludogorets in Bulgaria.
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