Top News

‘If it’s difficult, you call Jose!’ - Mourinho issues defiant message after Real Madrid beat Inter in Champions League thriller

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho delivered a characteristically defiant message after a chaotic 2-1 Champions League win over Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite dealing with a major squad crisis against his former club, the Portuguese coach praised his side’s clinical finishing and insisted he is at his best when faced with the hardest challenges in European football.

Madrid punish costly errors

The Spanish giants claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Inter in their Champions League opener despite being badly hit by injuries and suspensions to several key players. Los Blancos were ruthless in capitalising on two disastrous defensive mistakes from the visitors inside the opening 25 minutes, with Kylian Mbappe scoring one and Federico Valverde adding the other. The important win came without regular first-team figures such as Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo.

Boss describes crazy contest

Mourinho looked back on an end-to-end encounter full of dangerous chances shared by two of Europe’s top sides. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the coach said: “I liked the result, three points in the opening game against a very strong team, but the game was spectacular for anyone at home, just not for me or Cristian Chivu.

“This game was crazy. It could’ve been 5-0 for us, 5-5, 7-6, 5-6, a game with so many chances. Inter are strong, it was tough with our midfield to close them down sitting deep, yet we could’ve killed off the game at 3-0 before half-time. We had another chance with Bellingham, Inter could’ve scored several too. It was open to the end, just a crazy game of football.”

Backing Mbappe after the forward received scattered boos from sections of the home crowd, Mourinho added: “Mbappe worked really hard, he scored an important goal, had two or three chances that he usually converts, but I am not worried, because he will always score goals. He’ll certainly be Champions League top scorer again this season, and he works really hard for the team, so I couldn’t be more satisfied.”

Coach relishes difficult challenges

The match also marked an emotional reunion with former defender Chivu, who was a key part of their 2010 Treble success at Inter, before Mourinho again explained why he accepted the pressure-filled return to Madrid.

Speaking about his touchline meeting with Chivu, he said: “We had a hug before, a hug after, he knows what I feel about him, I know what he feels about me. During the 90 minutes, you forget everything, but now if we have an opportunity to meet up, we’ll talk.”

Asked why club president Florentino Perez acted quickly to bring him back to the Santiago Bernabeu, Mourinho said: “Because the situation was tough. If it’s easy, it’s not for me. If it’s difficult, you call Jose.”

Emotional Roma reunion approaches

Before an emotional trip to Roma on October 14 - his first return to the Stadio Olimpico since being sacked - Madrid must come through a demanding domestic run against Rayo Vallecano, Elche and city rivals Atletico Madrid before the international break. After returning, Los Blancos will host Villarreal on October 11, only a few days before travelling to the Italian capital. The Portuguese manager must handle his squad’s fitness carefully amid the emotional build-up in order to maintain momentum on both the domestic and continental fronts.