Mourinho praises the big win against Real Madrid

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho spoke to the press after his team's 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in the final round of the Champions League group stage, confirming that the win secured them a place in the play-offs for the round of 16.

Mourinho said: "Football is full of decisive moments, and victory or defeat is often decided in the final seconds of the match. To achieve victory, you have to take risks and make the right decisions at the right time. One goal would have changed the score to 3-3, yet we still managed to qualify."

Regarding goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin's goal that secured qualification, Mourinho noted: "We knew his abilities; he showed similar brilliance in the Dragão match two weeks ago. The goal wasn't just technically brilliant; it also had an economic impact and boosted the team's profile, putting us through to the next round of the competition." Regarding the changes he made in the second half, Mourinho explained: "I made the substitutions when the score was 3-2, trying to bolster the attack. When we ended up with one less player, I sent Nico Otamendi forward to support the team, while maintaining defensive balance."

Mourinho concluded: "Even with a man down, our focus was on protecting the defense and winning. The truth is, the opportunity came our way, and we created a historic moment at home against Real Madrid."