Mourinho reveals real reason Osayi-Samuel was replaced; Super Eagles star speaks on contract situation

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has revealed exactly why Bright Osayi-Samuel was replaced just past the hour mark during his side's 1-1 draw against Manchester United in a Europa League clash on Thursday night.

The respected Portuguese football tactician has suggested that the former Queens Park Rangers winger making way for Rodrigo Becão was not a tactical decision but an injury-enforced substitution.

The Nigeria international was walking a disciplinary tightrope before he was substituted, having received a yellow card for a foul on Manchester United forward  Alejandro Garnacho in the 60th minute. 

Mourinho revealed that Fenerbahce are faced with an injury crisis before their upcoming games, forcing him to play some players out of position.

In quotes relayed by the official website of the Yellow Canaries, Mourinho stated: "We lost Osayi because he got injured later. 

"We are in a difficult situation, we had to leave some players out of the UEFA list anyway. Injuries are added to this. 

"Therefore, we had to move Djiku to the right. Mert Müldür was playing on the left back, and he is not a left back.”

Osayi-Samuel has seen his season blighted by injuries, with the fullback missing the last six games played by Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig.

The defender pulled out of Nigeria's squad for the internationals in September against Benin's Cheetahs and Rwanda's Wasps due to an ankle injury, and was a non-playing substitute versus Libya this month.

Osayi-Samuel is in the final eight months of his contract at Fenerbahce, meaning he can sign a preliminary contract with a foreign club in the January transfer window, amid reports linking him with a return to England.

He kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the possibility of staying with Fenerbahce next season.

"I don't know, it's not up to me,” Osayi-Samuel told reporters in the mixed zone. 

Osayi-Samuel was spotted limping as he left the stadium, suggesting he faces a race against time to be fit for Fenerbahce's next game against Bodrum. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com