Despite reports that he will have surgery during the Christmas break, former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has resorted to social media to reassure supporters that he is doing well.

The 61-year-old will have his gallbladder removed during the holiday season, according to reports in Portuguese media. Mourinho posted a video to Instagram to clarify his predicament.

In the video, he adds, “Happy Christmas and thank you so much for so many messages.” For those of you who have shown concern, Mourinho “can confirm reports of my surgery have been greatly exaggerated,” the caption continues.

“As usual, I’ll start exercising again on the first day back from the holidays. I haven’t skipped a session in twenty-five years, and I don’t plan to do so now,” he continued.

Mourinho merely stated that “it’s just a quick and minor procedure,” without going into detail about the type of surgery.

Although Fenerbahce is now eight points behind arch-rivals Galatasaray in the league, the Portuguese joined the Istanbul-based team in the summer and is hoping to lead them to their first Super Lig championship since 2013–14.

Jose Mourinho, the head coach of Fenerbahce, will have surgery. (AP)Mourinho stated on the club website before to the winter break that although the players “will have a few days off, it will not be a happy time off for me.”

“I would actually rather not take this time off, but we made a long-term commitment to the players,” he stated.

Many athletes were unable to take longer than ten days off. Thus, it was crucial that they rest in this circumstance. We must perform better.

“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,” Mourinho said, expressing his continued belief that his team can win the championship.

“This is not how I want to think. It’s still open for me,” he continued.

The next game for Fenerbahce is a home game against Hatayspor on the weekend of January 5.