Mourinho says Real Madrid have the character to win matches ‘only we can’

Jose Mourinho said Real Madrid possess the belief and quality required to win matches in dramatic fashion after they came from behind to beat AEK Athens 3-2.

The Spanish side secured victory in the final minutes, once again showing their determination to fight until the final whistle. Mourinho said his players had the confidence and courage to recover from difficult situations and highlighted the strength of the squad at his disposal.

“These are the matches that are decided in the final minutes,” Mourinho said, as reported by Spanish newspaper AS. “Only we can win them in this way. We have what it takes to do that.”

He also praised AEK Athens for making life difficult for Real Madrid and suggested the Greek side’s performance was a major reason his team failed to produce their best football.

“We played against a very difficult team that put in a great performance, perhaps their best,” he said. “They were organised from the first minute, played directly and showed great physical strength and intensity. They produced an exceptional display.”

Despite falling behind, Mourinho was pleased with the way Real Madrid remained competitive and handled the decisive moments.

“We stayed in the match despite the difficulties and knew how to deal with the critical moments,” he added. “We showed strong character even when we were behind. In the final minute, when the game opened up and both teams wanted to win, the team with greater individual quality prevailed.”

Mourinho defends Vinicius

Mourinho rejected the suggestion that Vinicius Junior’s presence had forced team-mate Diomande to switch from the left side to the right.

“Vinicius did not cause anything,” he said. “Diomande came to Real Madrid to play on both sides, not just one. It does not matter to him and nothing changes, whichever side he plays on.”

The manager described Vinicius’ performance as acceptable and said his substitution decisions had also been influenced by the need to manage the squad ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Valencia.

Asked whether Vinicius required a softer or firmer approach, Mourinho replied jokingly: “80% with the right hand and 20% with the left hand,” indicating that he favoured the more lenient approach.

Praise for Bellingham and Endrick

Mourinho described Jude Bellingham as an exceptional midfielder with a rare combination of qualities.

“Since I arrived, he has been performing well,” Mourinho said. “He is unique. There is no midfielder in the world with this level of completeness in every area. He has work-rate, leadership, ambition, quality, the ability to reach the goal and to score. He is an exceptional player.”

He also acknowledged the frustration of players who have not received many minutes, including Endrick, but said the quality of his substitutes gives him important alternatives. He cited Eder Militao’s contribution despite the defender needing time to regain his match rhythm.

“Many managers look at my bench with positive envy,” Mourinho said. “When I have a problem and look towards the substitutes, I find many options. We have a squad of great quality, and as long as the players work only for the team and put personal considerations aside, this group will be very strong.”

Mourinho said he intended to make several changes against Valencia because of the demanding schedule and limited recovery time. Dean Huijsen, Konate, Tchouameni and Arda Guler are among the players expected to benefit.

The fixture listing gives Valencia against Real Madrid in La Liga on 07 November 2026, followed by Real Madrid against AEK Athens in the Greek Super League on 08 November 2026 and Levadiakos as the subsequent opponent.