Real Madrid Players Ignored Jose Mourinho’s Orders in the Champions League

Federico Valverde was highly critical despite the win over Inter and revealed that Madrid failed to follow Mourinho’s instructions after halftime.

The Mourinho Order Real Madrid Failed to Follow

Real Madrid began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the three points were not enough to hide the problems Los Blancos experienced during the second half.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a finish that also marked his 71st goal in the competition, before Federico Valverde capitalized on a costly mistake from goalkeeper Josep Martinez to double Madrid’s advantage. At 2-0, the European opener appeared to be firmly under control.

However, the game changed completely after halftime. Inter took the initiative, Carlos Augusto pulled one back and Thibaut Courtois was forced into several important saves to preserve the victory. After the final whistle, Valverde revealed one major reason for Madrid’s struggles: the players failed to execute Jose Mourinho’s halftime instructions.

UEFA Champions League

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“Mourinho Told Us Very Clearly”

The Portuguese manager wanted his team to protect the lead by keeping possession for longer periods, particularly away from their own goal. The idea was precisely to prevent Inter from establishing themselves in Madrid territory and turning the closing stages into a battle.

“Mourinho told us very clearly to keep the ball more, especially in their half, and to play more calmly,” Valverde explained after the game. He then admitted exactly what went wrong: “We did not do that.”

The Uruguay international refused to let the victory disguise Madrid’s shortcomings. “We have to be self-critical. It’s true that we won and it’s important to start with a win, but we as players need to realize that we put in a poor second half and did not play well,” he said.

Mbappe Draws Level With Raul in Champions League History

Despite Madrid’s collective struggles, the night produced another historic milestone for Mbappe. His goal against Inter was the 71st of his Champions League career, drawing him level with Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.

The major difference is how quickly the Frenchman reached the milestone. Mbappe needed just 99 appearances, while Raul scored his 71 goals across 142 matches.

Mbappe is now tied for fifth on the competition’s all-time scoring list, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema. It is another remarkable indication of the Frenchman’s scoring pace on Europe’s biggest stage.

A Victory That Leaves Real Madrid With Work to Do

The result gives Mourinho’s team three points to begin their Champions League campaign, but the second half provided plenty to address. Real Madrid went from controlling the match with a two-goal advantage to relying on Courtois to protect their lead during Inter’s strongest spell.

The Belgian goalkeeper, making his 100th Champions League appearance, ultimately proved crucial in preventing the Italian side from completing the comeback. His performance also reinforced Valverde’s message: winning does not necessarily mean Madrid played well.

Los Blancos must now quickly turn their attention back to LaLiga, where they will face Rayo Vallecano. Mourinho got the result he wanted in the European opener, but Valverde’s admission makes it clear that Real Madrid still have work to do when it comes to executing their manager’s instructions on the pitch.