🚨🚨 |𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄: 🗣️ Reporter: “José, immediately after Espí scored, we saw you call Fede Valverde over. What did you say to him?” 🗣️ José Mourinho: “I told him, ‘Fede, now we control the game.’ We had just scored, but that does not mean the job is finished. Espanyol were finding too much space in midfield, and in those final minutes we could not allow the match to become chaotic. “I wanted Fede to take responsibility for the ball. Slow the game when we need to slow it, move it quickly when the space is there, and make Espanyol run. We didn’t need another attack every ten seconds. We needed control. “I also told him to look for Vinícius’ feet whenever possible. Give him the ball, let him face his defender and force Espanyol to react. If they start sending two players towards Vinícius, then the space opens for Mbappé. That is the relationship we wanted to use. “In those moments, experience matters. You have to understand that protecting a lead is not simply defending your box. Sometimes the best way to defend is to keep the ball, make the opponent chase and choose the right moment to attack. “Fede understood immediately. The goal gave us the advantage, but controlling those final minutes was what gave us the victory.” #mourinho #realmadrid #foryoupage #madrid #viral - @the_goat_tm