Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku has credited Fenerbahce's manager, Jose Mourinho, with instilling a winning culture in the team since his arrival during the summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old Djiku has been a standout player in Mourinho's first two competitive games, helping the Turkish giants advance to the third round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Fenerbahce secured victories over Swiss side Lugano both home and away, setting up a tie with French club Lille. Djiku attributes this early success to Mourinho's meticulous approach.
"The star of the team is obviously Jose Mourinho. He controls everything, is meticulous about all the details, dead balls, etc. At the end of training, we all score penalties. We work on the little details that can make a difference. You feel his presence and experience," Djiku told French media outlet L'Equipe.
Mourinho aims to lead Fenerbahce to the group stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, and Djiku believes the manager's winning mentality is influencing the players positively. "Jose Mourinho speaks to us often, he is very meticulous about his expectations in defense and attack. There is healthy competition within the team, and the coach gave everyone a chance during the preparation period," added Djiku.
Djiku also highlighted Mourinho's ability to maximize player performance, noting the intense pre-season training. "We worked a lot athletically and physically during the preparation period, with long sessions. We are starting to get in good shape physically," he said.
The Ghanaian defender praised Mourinho's illustrious career, which includes titles with Porto, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Roma.
"Mourinho is the best coach in the world. He won the Champions League with Porto (2004) and Inter (2010), the Europa League with Manchester United (2017), and the Conference League with Roma (2022). He has won with every team he has coached. He instills this winning culture in us. You feel that he is a real leader."
