Audio By Carbonatix
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has hailed his side for a hard-fought 3-2 Champions League win against Manchester City. The Spanish champions twice came back from a goal down and won the game after Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 90th minute.
Roberto Mancini's men were on the racks in the first half and Mourinho would, no doubt, have liked to go into the break at least a goal in front. The trend seemed set to continue in the second period but out of nowhere Ivorian international Yaya Toure powered through the Madrid backline to set up Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko (who'd only just come on as a substitute). Against the run of play, City were leading 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The joy was short-lived though, with Brazilian left back Marcelo curling in a right-footed shot past Joe Hart, after a deflection of former Madrid midfielder Javi Garcia. City were back in front after a bit of fortune themselves, when Serbian left back Aleksandr Kolarov's free kick missed everyone and crept in at Iker Casillas' far post. Once again, the joy was short-lived (shorter, actually).
French striker Karim Benzema received the ball with his back to goal, turned and gave Hart no chance, at his near post. A much maligned Madrid team, in recent days, could sense the win and it finally came after, fittingly, Ronaldo's 90th minute dipped and bounced a way past an increasingly helpless Hart in City's goal.
The "Special One" later said his side, who have had a very shaky start to the season - Madrid are already eight points behind Barcelona - played brilliantly and deserved the victory. The win came after the two managers engaged in a war of words, the first leg of which, the former Chelsea boss has won. A clearly delighted Mourinho then added: "I am sorry for the journalists who had their story written and then had to change it."
"They've proved to me that if they want, they can. If they want to be top professionals and if they want to respect Real Madrid's history, every match, not just against City or against Barcelona, every single match they can do it because last season they proved it," the former Chelsea boss explained.
"I'm so happy with the players' attitudes, because it's a big victory against a big team. That's football and we deserve to win. If I feel we don't, I would feel a bit more for them [Manchester City] but we produced a better match than them. We tried to win from the first minute and I think we deserved it," he added.
The Portuguese tactician, who went down on his knees to celebrate Ronaldo's winner, added that the last-minute goal would lead him "delete everything that was ready to be written and write again".
"It doesn't matter about my celebration, what mattered was the match and the way people who love football around the world enjoyed this match for sure. For me as a coach, more important than the win is to be proud of my team, whatever the result," BBC quoted Mourinho as saying.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Manhyia South constituents demand apology from EOCO over attempt to ‘unlawfully’ arrest MP
3 minutes -
Twelve women have been killed in one part of South Africa since July. Here’s what we know so far
6 minutes -
OMJ Foundation commits to supporting transport, safety and livelihoods of commercial riders in Akuapem South
8 minutes -
The Reciprocity crisis: Why Ghana welcomes British Professionals while the UK relegates ours
9 minutes -
GNAT rejects gov’t fresh assurances, demands implementation of August 31 agreement
19 minutes -
Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple appointed Patron of NDC UK and Ireland Aldershot Branch
24 minutes -
Bawumia engages Ghana Medical Association on health workforce and licensing concerns
27 minutes -
SEC shuts down Nyak-City Hostels over unlicensed investment scheme
29 minutes -
The Ladder Project engages 60 UPSA student leaders on leadership and Ghana’s next chapter
31 minutes -
National Investment Quiz: St. Augustine’s, Prempeh College advance to semi-finals
35 minutes -
Leadership is about responsibility, not titles – Sammi Awuku tells UPSA students
37 minutes -
National Investment Quiz: Corpus Christi, Wesley Girls, advance to semi-finals
42 minutes -
Phone dealer murder: 3 suspects remanded as court adjourns Teshie case
45 minutes -
Seamless Technologies CEO Calls for Strategic AI adoption to transform Ghana’s financial services sector
48 minutes -
Cargill, ICI equip 111 youth with vocational skills to tackle child labour
49 minutes