Mourinho: Real Madrid and Inter matchup is 'crazy'!

Real Madrid’s Portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho, said the 2-1 victory over Italy’s Inter at the start of the UEFA Champions League campaign came after a crazy scenario. Speaking to Movistar after the match in the Spanish capital Madrid, Mourinho added: “We face heavy criticism when a match is boring, but Tuesday’s game was crazy, and it could have ended with either team winning 7-6.” The veteran Portuguese coach added: “We scored two goals while our opponents were struggling with some difficulties, but Real Madrid’s players deserve praise and recognition. Federico Valverde’s second goal was the result of hard work.” Real Madrid ended the first half leading with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde in the 14th and 23rd minutes, following serious errors by center-back Jan Bednarek and his teammate goalkeeper Gipsy Martinez. Carlos Augusto pulled one back for Inter in the second half in the 77th minute of the match played at the Santiago Bernabeu, which saw Thibaut Courtois shine by saving many dangerous chances. The Madrid side earned three points, reconciling with their fans just days after their first loss of the season, a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis in the fourth round of La Liga. Meanwhile, young Moroccan international midfielder Ayoub El Kaabi received widespread praise after making his first start for English club Manchester City in the Champions League, most notably from his Norwegian striker teammate Erling Haaland. After City’s 2-0 win over Portuguese hosts Porto, with Haaland scoring in the 47th and 90+1st minutes, the Norwegian striker said about the 18-year-old El Kaabi: “He played a very good game. He was amazing during the last two weeks in training, and I told the president (Khaldoon Al Mubarak). Honestly, I think we’ve found a gem.” His Italian coach, Enzo Maresca, said: “He is a very good player. Against Coventry, he received two cards, and immediately after that he was inside our penalty area and behaved calmly. Other players might have panicked, but at 18, he is a wonderful player.” Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live during the match, said: “His age and playing style make it seem like he was born for this.” German side Borussia Dortmund defeated Spanish visitors Villarreal 3-2, Greek club AEK Athens beat Austrian newcomers LASK Linz 1-0, Spanish Real Betis overcame French Lille 3-2, and English Aston Villa defeated Belgian Club Brugge 3-2.