Mourinho Real Madrid AEK Athens Champions League win, Digi Mart USA News: José Mourinho spoke after Real Madrid secured a comeback 3-2 win away to AEK Athens on Wednesday evening in the Champions League.
Mourinho said the team had fought for the result. At 2-2, he said, the players did not accept a draw, even though a point would have been acceptable with the team on 10 points.
He said the side had taken risks and earned the points that now secure qualification for the play-offs, and that the aim now is to collect the points needed to avoid them.
Mourinho praised AEK, saying they played above their capabilities and delivered their best match. He said they pressed intensely from the first minute, won the duels and were dangerous on the counterattack, and that after 2-2 they played to win rather than settle for a draw.
On Valverde, Mourinho said the player was capable of shooting more but that playing at right-back made it harder to shoot from that position. He said he had asked him to attack the spaces because the match had become open and both teams were tired.
He also said he brought on Carreras for Cucurella, who had a yellow card, to add freshness on the left.
Mourinho said he was very satisfied, while stressing that AEK had played very well. He said the team had remained in the match despite difficulties, reacted to both critical moments and showed personality even when behind, and that in the final minute the side with greater individual quality prevailed.
On Endrick, Mourinho said that everyone who does not play deserves to, and cited Militao’s strong performance. He said his bench gives him many options and that the squad is very strong as long as players put the team first.
He added that Real Madrid have 12 points and believe they are qualified, and that the aim is to avoid the play-offs by collecting the seven or eight points still needed.
Asked about Vinicius and Diomande, Mourinho said Diomande joined to play on both flanks and that the change did not affect him. He described Diomande’s performance as acceptable rather than extraordinary, and said Vinicius had fulfilled his role well.
He also said some substitutions were made with the coming match against Valencia in mind.
On the comebacks, Mourinho said he would prefer to win more comfortably but that the team is the only one capable of winning matches in the final minutes, adding that the players have courage. He called Bellingham a unique midfielder who contributes work, leadership, ambition, quality and goals, and said he feels fortunate to have this squad.
Mourinho also addressed a penalty awarded to Mbappe at Santander, saying it had no effect on the result because the team would have won by several goals regardless. He described it as a small penalty that referees often award in such situations, and said that in this match the decisions had no impact.
On Rafael Nadal being named to the club’s board, Mourinho praised him as a great Madridista and said he was proud to have him at the club. He said he hoped supporters of other clubs who admire Nadal would continue to do so.
Asked whether he relies more on Vinicius’s right or left foot, Mourinho answered 80% right and 20% left. He noted the team had changed five players between Sunday and Wednesday and would likely make four or five more changes before Saturday, describing the schedule with only two days of recovery and travel as very difficult.
Mourinho said the atmosphere at AEK’s stadium was extraordinary and that the coach had changed his team’s approach, defending and counterattacking well, and that if he had to single out one person it would be him.
