LISBONA (PORTOGALLO) (ITALPRESS) – The plot of a record-breaking film. Benfica-Real Madrid of interesting themes already proposed on the eve, but an epilogue like that of the 98° with the head blow from centring and the goal of the goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin who qualifies the lusitani (and eliminates the OM of De Zerbi for net difference), no one could imagine it.
Josè Mourinho actually thought about it, but only 97, when, on the punishment whistled by the Italian Massa, he ordered the extreme Ukrainian defender to go exploit his 199 centimeters. That said for the apotheosis of Da Luz and of the same “special one” that embracing a raccattapalle has touched all his joy and tensions of the last days.
“This was a historic evening, but now I ask respect. The only thing I ask is this, I ask some people – he says sarcastically speaking to critics – not to commit suicide, not to jump from the balconies, Benfica will lose again and return to kill us… I ask only a little respect for the club and for the players”, the words of a Mourinho who did not forget the criticism and who presented the account to his detractors in an evening with strong emotions for him, since on the other side there was the “his” Real, led by Alvaro Arbeloa, one of his players during the adventure on the blancos bench.
“I remember having won or lost at the last minute, I happened several times, but this situation was unique, you had to take risks, we could take the 3-3 in that last action, but also do goals and pass the turn. Winning against Real Madrid always has an important weight, but this is a historical victory, fundamental from the economic point of view and prestige – explains the former technician of Inter and Rome -. We are not a very strong team in the air game, I sent to jump the highest, the goalkeeper, and I asked the smallest, Dahl, to stay midfield. Trubin went there and made a spectacular goal beyond the importance of the network.”.
The enthusiasm of Mourinho and the Eagles on one side, the depression and nervousness of the blancos that, irony of fate, the play-offs could cross just Benfica. Yes, because Real did not enter the top 8 and Kylian Mbappè just cannot give itself an explanation. “I don’t understand, we lack continuity in the game, it’s a problem we have to solve. We can’t be good one day and poor the next. It hurts a bit because it would have been important to have less commitments to improve, but we deserved the position where we are”, says the French author of a doublet at Da Luz.
“We played very badly… We were already losing 3-2, the fourth goal didn’t change anything, but it was a bit embarrassing,” added Mbappé who insisted on the problems of this Real. “We miss a bit of everything. I don’t say it’s just a problem of attitude or play, I think it’s a general matter and in the Champions League every detail is important. Now I ask Bernabéu to support the team. We are at the play-offs and are taking a good path in Liga.”.
From Mbappé to Alvaro Arbeloa that, a few weeks after replacing Xabi Alonso, lies in a vortex of tensions and assumed full responsibility for defeat. “We were unable to express ours for 90 minutes. We know we have to work a lot, have to improve and we are aware that we still have a lot to do. To win this kind of game, you have to do a lot, not just one, and you have to do it for 90 minutes. It’s not the first time a goalkeeper scores against me. We played with two players less (expelled Asensio at 92° and Rodrygo at 96°) and we also had to score a goal to arrive at the top 8. They risked them and risked us too, but eventually they won. I feel completely responsible for defeat, but we were not eliminated from Champions. We have two games ahead of us and we will face them with the goal of passing the turn“. Eventually the hug with Mourinho. “Stay all between me and José.”.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
