JOSE MOURINHO has admitted he initially tried to defend Benfica’s 3-2 lead against Real Madrid – before realising his side needed another goal to reach the Champions League last-16.
Mourinho’s Benfica ended up sealing a dramatic 4-2 win over his old club Madrid as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored in the dying minutes to spark wild scenes.
Madrid had been down to nine men by the end of the game as Raul Asensio and Rodrygo were sent off in stoppage time amid chaotic scenes.
It meant Benfica went straight through to the knockouts, while Madrid will be forced into a play-off tie.
The La Liga side twice took the lead through Kylian Mbappe before the hosts hit back thanks to a brace from Andreas Schjelderup.
Vangelis Pavlidis‘ penalty on the stroke of half time then put Benfica ahead before Mourinho attempted to hold onto their lead.
Welcome offer
Get a £50 welcome bonus when you join Sun Vegas and spend £10
GIMME FIVE
Five Prem sides straight through to last 16 and could face off
As the game went into stoppage time, he took off two forwards in Gianluca Prestianni and Pavlidis for centre-back Antonio Silva and forward Franjo Ivanovic.
But when he realised his side actually needed to win the game 4-2, he was forced to play Nicolas Otamendi up front.
He then sent keeper Trubin up the pitch for one last roll of the dice following a late free kick and the rest is history.
Mourinho said: “When I substituted António Silva and Ivanovic, I had no idea if 3-2 was enough. I just want to close the door and I think it’s enough.
Most read in Champions League
“When I was told we needed one more goal, honestly I was upset. I was thinking, ‘Why was I not told a few seconds before?’
“When we realised it wasn’t enough and they were down to ten men, I sent Nico [Otamendi] to play up front.
“When the foul came, I sent Trubin forward and Dahl to stay in midfield. The little guy stayed back here.
“We kept the pride because that was my challenge to the players before the game: ‘If we don’t qualify, we have to win – if we don’t qualify, we don’t qualify, but we have to win.’
“That was the pride behind the attitude. I would be happy the same, winning the way we did against Real Madrid and being out. I would be happy the same.”
While it might have been Trubin’s first ever goal in football, Mourinho insisted he felt the keeper was capable of such heroics.
He added: “We knew that he could do it, we knew that he could do it,” he insisted.
“We were losing in Porto a couple of weeks ago and in the last minute he went there and almost scored. So we know the big guy is capable of this.
“The quality of the service is, of course, the most important thing, you have to put the ball there, but it’s an amazing goal for the guy.”
Read the full article here
