Mourinho talks Vinicius, Trent and fan whistles after Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan
Real Madrid kicked off their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with a narrow 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Bernabeu on Tuesday. It was far from a straightforward win for the hosts, who had to withstand a lot of pressure from the visitors, but ultimately, they did enough to secure an important three points in the league phase.
As per Diario AS, head coach Jose Mourinho spoke to the media in his post-match press conference to deliver his assessment of the events at the Bernabeu. He was happy with the performance of his players, although he did not like the lack of control that his side had over the 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
“The summary is that it could end 5-1 or 6-1, for us. It could also have ended 6-6. I don’t want to say that Inter could have won the game, because we created more and at crucial moments, like the chance for 3-0 in the last moment of the first half… Jude’s at the beginning of the second… But, crazy game. A madness that I don’t like. I don’t like it. I like much more to be able to score five, six or seven… but having absolute control and not needing an absolutely incredible goalkeeper. That in today’s game, whoever decides the MVP was sleeping, because if they don’t give it to Courtois today, they will never give it to him. Without taking away the merit from Valverde, who has won it.”
“I think that, as a coach, I have not been able to do things that I would like to do. I would like to make changes sooner. I wish I could compact sooner. If you look at Inter’s goal, clearly the defensive intensity has already dropped. It was too much not to have so many people who could have helped us to have a different control of the game. But we were very good when we were compact. Valverde’s goal is not a coincidence. It is not a coincidence, but a great interpretation by Fede of the structure of the strategy we had. And I can’t isolate my words from the context of us playing against a great team. Great team. With a thousand options. They make changes… and I couldn’t put intensity, make the changes I wanted in midfield… It was a very tough match, with three very important points. There are already three less (points needed) to qualify. I am absolutely convinced that we are going to do it. But getting these three points in the first match is important.”
Mourinho: I don’t criticise the Real Madrid fans
Mourinho was asked about the performance of Vinicius Junior, and also the whistles that were directed at the Brazilian during the match.
“I don’t criticise the fans, I don’t talk about the fans. I speak as a coach and my relationship with him: he deserves all my respect. He’s not at his best, it’s one thing, you see, me, we all see. But he is the first to know. He is working hard to be the Vinicius who decides game after game. But by not being at full throttle and not doing this, right now, he’s working harder than ever… whether in training or in matches. The few times he has not been able to compact and defend with the block, it was due to fatigue. Because he has made four, five, six sprints with a 50-meter ball. And it is not easy. But he had a very, very good commitment in the game. And I have to value this very much. I have a lot of respect for this Vinicius that I have found. And it will come… The time will come when he decides matches. And he wins them.”
Mourinho also reacted to the performance of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whom he was forced to use in midfield due to Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler being suspended.
“He played very well. He has interpreted very well what he had to interpret from a tactical point of view. The penetrations of his number eight, Curtis Jones and Barella, both him and Valverde… They have worked very well at this level. He has had some turnovers here and there, because it is not the same to play with the field in front of your eyes, than with half the field in front and the other behind. He has played there once with Liverpool and with the national team, but he is not a midfield player and, mainly, because of the intensity. The specificity of physical work… That position is very difficult. A completely different engine from yours is necessary, which is one of a more positional full-back. And he has given it his all. When he came off, he had no more to give. And I appreciate the effort he has made for the team. Just as I also thank Tchouameni who, without having done a single training session with the team… Because the last time he touched the ball was in the World Cup, in the semi-finals. What you saw yesterday was only to deceive, because you have seen nothing. And be willing to come in and help… I appreciate the effort.”
