Real Madrid extended their winning streak in the UEFA Champions League with a dramatic comeback victory over AEK Athens in their fourth match of the season. Despite trailing twice, the Merengues turned the game around to clinch the win in the dying moments of the match.
Following the game, Jose Mourinho, who managed the team, expressed his satisfaction with their performance, highlighting the challenge posed by their opponents:
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“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.”
Mourinho praised players like Endrick, acknowledging the depth of talent 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.”
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Mourinho also addressed the performances 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 coach emphasized that their late victory was about skill rather than 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.”
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Mourinho was particularly complimentary about Jude Bellingham’s contributions:
“He is unique. There is no midfielder in the world like him. He is extraordinary. He has work rate, quality… Excellent.”
When questioned about a penalty awarded to Real Madrid during their match against Racing Club, Mourinho dismissed its significance:
“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 coach welcomed Rafael Nadal’s recent addition to the Real Madrid board:
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“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.”
Mourinho acknowledged the need for player rotations due to the demanding nature of the matches:
“We have to rotate a lot of players. It’s very demanding. But that’s the way it is.”
He noted the impact of AEK Athens’ stadium atmosphere on the match’s difficulty:
“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.”
Despite the initial expectations of an easy match, Jose Mourinho recognized the challenges ahead. Ultimately, Real Madrid claimed the victory in Athens and stands second in the UCL table with four consecutive wins thus far.
