Jose Mourinho talks Endrick, Bellingham, Diomande, Vinicius, Nadal after AEK Athens 2-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid were able to keep alive their winning run as they once again came from behind to beat AEK Athens in their fourth UEFA Champions League game of the season. The Greek hosts went ahead on the scoreboard twice, but the Merengues were ultimately able to turn the scores around and get a win in the final moments of the match.
As MARCA has reported, Jose Mourinho also talked to the press after the game and analyzed the match. The Portuguese coach remained satisfied with his team’s performance despite them winning the game only in the last moments:
“Very satisfied, obviously. But we were playing against a magnificent team that played better than ever. Nothing we had seen before resembled what they produced today. Jovic was extraordinary. They played very well. We knew how to suffer.”
The Real Madrid manager was full of praise for Endrick and other forwards in his squad:
“I’m frustrated that I can’t give him more playing time. You can see how the best players perform. We took a risk with Militão and with Vinicius, who wasn’t fully match-fit… A player like Endrick is a nightmare for a full-back, especially after an hour of having to deal with another quality player.
I look at the bench and I have so much quality available. I can change my plans because of the quality of the squad. They work for the team without thinking about their own personal situations. Now it’s about avoiding the play-off.”
Mourinho also opened up on the situation of Vinicius and Diomande:
“He hasn’t prompted any change at all. Diomande is equally comfortable on the right or the left. Vini had a very decent game, not an extraordinary one, just like the team. We have to think about the result, but also about Valencia. That’s why I substituted Diomande and Bernardo. As far as Vini is concerned, so far it’s been 80% soft approach and 20% tough approach.”
The Portuguese tactician was clear that winning this game in the last moments was not about luck:
“If it happens so many times, it’s not luck. Only we could have won this match. We have them where we want them. Every player who comes on has an important role. I’m very lucky.”
The Real Madrid coach was also full of praise for Jude Bellingham:
“He is unique. There is no midfielder in the world like him. He is extraordinary. He has work rate, quality… Excellent.”
Mourinho was also asked about the penalty awarded to his side during the game against Racing Club, and he downplayed its importance:
“It had no bearing on the scoreline. We would have scored more goals if we had needed to. It was a very soft penalty, in my opinion. If it had been given against me, I wouldn’t have been happy. There have been mistakes in other matches that had a major impact on the scoreline. Those are the mistakes that matter, not this one.”
The Portuguese tactician welcomed Rafael Nadal as a member of the Real Madrid board:
“Chapeau to Real Madrid and to Nadal. I am proud. Nadal is Nadal. Now I hope that supporters of other teams who love Nadal won’t stop doing so.”
The Merengue coach was clear that he will have to continue making rotations:
“We have to rotate a lot of players. It’s very demanding. But that’s the way it is.”
Mourinho highlighted the role of AEK Athens’ stadium in making this game so difficult:
“Extraordinary. The stadium plays its part, and a huge one. It is similar to Turkey. That’s why their teams’ performances drop when they play away.”
Although this game looked easy on paper, Jose Mourinho always understood how tricky it could turn out to be. Fortunately, Real Madrid were able to get the job done in Athens, and now stand second in the UCL table, with a perfect record of four out of four wins.
