The Benfica vs. Real Madrid (4-2) match in the 8th round of the UEFA Champions League sparked a long debate not only with the score but also with his behind-the-scenes remarks. Following the match, Lisbon head coach Jose Mourinho addressed the press, openly highlighting the most important points of the evening.
The Portuguese specialist, first of all, assessed the result as fair:
"A real victory," said Mourinho. He emphasized that Mbappé had two great opportunities for Real Madrid and scored two goals from those opportunities. At the same time, Mourinho emphasized that the victory over Real Madrid is a great honor for Benfica.
The potential opponent's theme in the playoffs wasn't left out either. When Mourinho learned he could face Inter Milan or Real Madrid, he didn't resort to his usual "attacking" approach; instead, he expressed his respect for both clubs. He said that facing such teams is great for football, especially it's pleasant to meet on the field with "friends like today." Mourinho called them clubs capable of winning the Champions League.
The most talked-about episode of the evening was, of course, Anatoly Trubin's goal. The goalkeeper's goal in the 90+ minutes in a set piece has already become a historic shot. Mourinho explained the situation very sincerely:
While he was making the substitutions, he thought his team had already made it to the playoffs. However, after a few seconds, they said the situation wasn't that simple. After that, Trubin expressed the opinion that "success was also on our side" in the standard situation where he scored a historic goal. Still, he didn't change his final conclusion: the victory was fair.
There's another interesting aspect to this statement: according to reports, Mourinho, who previously managed Real Madrid, defeated Real Madrid for the first time in his coaching career. That is, this 4:2 is not just for three points or the table - it's also a personal "first time" sign for Mourinho.
In short, this evening was a big celebration for Benfica: a resounding victory over Real Madrid, the goalkeeper's historic goal, and Mourinho's first triumph. The Champions League proved once again: nothing will be decided in this competition until the last whistle.
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