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Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho has hailed the quality and courage of his players after they produced a second successive Champions League comeback to beat AEK Athens 3-2 in Greece.
Madrid twice came from behind at the Allwyn Arena on Wednesday night, with Federico Valverde striking in the 92nd minute to seal all three points and maintain their perfect record in the league phase.
AEK took the lead through Aboubakary Koita before Jude Bellingham levelled with a brilliant backheel flick. Stavros Pilios restored the home side’s advantage in the 75th minute, only for Kylian Mbappe to equalise four minutes later, before Valverde’s long-range winner.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho said only Madrid could win games in that manner.
He said, “We won the first game in the last minute. Of course, I prefer to win more comfortably, but these games won in the final minutes… only we can win them.
“We’re always in the right place when it matters. And if we do it, it’s because we all feel we can. The players have courage. I’m very lucky to have players of this quality. Very lucky.”
The Portuguese coach was full of praise for AEK, insisting they prevented Madrid from producing a perfect performance.
He said, “Yes, very satisfied, obviously. We played against a very difficult team, who played very well, better than ever.
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“From the first minute, they were very compact, playing direct football. An extraordinary match. They were full of energy, with great intensity. They’re the reason we didn’t play a perfect game. They played a great match.”
“And we, despite the difficulty, were always in the game. We knew how to react in the two critical moments. We showed character, even when we were behind. And in the last minute, with the game wide open and both teams wanting to win… the team with more individual quality won.”
Mourinho reserved special praise for Bellingham, who marked his 60th Champions League appearance, becoming the youngest player to reach the milestone, with the equaliser and the Player of the Match award.
“He’s a unique player; there’s no other midfielder in the world like him, so complete in every aspect,” Mourinho said.
“I’m at a loss for words, because for me he’s absolutely extraordinary. And even when he’s not having a good day… he always delivers hard work, leadership, ambition, quality, attacking runs, goals… He’s an extraordinary player. I repeat, I’m very lucky to have this squad.”
He also defended Vinicius Jr, describing his display as “very decent” and “a very respectable performance”, while praising Valverde for his decisive late strike.
Madrid now have 12 points from four matches and, according to Mourinho, have already qualified for at least the play-offs. He said they now need around seven or eight more points to avoid the play-offs and secure direct qualification for the Round of 16.
