Jose Mourinho admits Inter’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid was ‘a crazy game’ in the Champions League, he’s looking forward to Roma, but he returned because ‘if it’s difficult, you call Jose.’
The Merengues went into this Champions League opener with serious problems, as Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga were suspended, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio and Rodrygo injured, plus Aurelien Tchouameni, Endrick and Thiago Pitarch not fully fit.
Nonetheless, they were clinical when pouncing on two obvious Inter errors in the first 25 minutes, as Kylian Mbappé went clear after a misplaced Curtis Jones pass, then Federico Valverde embarrassed Josep Martinez trying to dribble inside his own six-yard box.
Mourinho saw ‘crazy game’ in Madrid
“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,” Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia.
“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.”
There were a few jeers towards Mbappé, who has been accused of being too greedy and not helping out his teammates enough.
“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.”
This was a special reunion for Mourinho and Chivu, who was his defender when Inter won the Treble in 2010, so what did they say to each other?
“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.”
The next match will also be a reunion for Mourinho, who faces a Champions League trip to the Stadio Olimpico against a Roma side that fired him.
“Last season it was Chelsea and another of my former clubs, it happens. I cannot disguise, Roma in Rome, that is my first time back there. Of course, it’s going to be emotional, but only before and after the match, during it I’ve got blinkers.”
Mourinho was asked why Real Madrid President Florentino Perez was so determined to bring him back, and replied with one of his classic quotes.
“Because the situation was tough. If it’s easy, it’s not for me. If it’s difficult, you call Jose.”
