Real Madrid came from behind to defeat AEK Athens 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Vinícius Júnior and Éder Militão started, while Endrick came off the bench, prompting coach José Mourinho to praise the options available to him and the young Brazilian’s impact in the second half.
Mourinho said it was difficult to leave talented players out of the starting lineup. He also praised Militão’s performance, noting that the defender took some time to find his rhythm before settling into the match.
On Endrick, Mourinho said it is a demanding task for a full-back to face the forward after already playing for an hour against a strong opponent. He added that other coaches might look with “healthy envy” at the depth of options available to him when problems arise.
Mourinho also said Real Madrid had 12 points and believed the team was already through, with avoiding the playoff round now a priority. He estimated that the side still needed seven or eight points to reach its remaining target.
Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored for Real Madrid, with Valverde’s goal coming in stoppage time. The comeback followed another late turnaround in the competition: Real had also beaten Roma after trailing in the third round.
Sources: Globo Esporte.