Morocco star Brahim Díaz earns plaudit from José Mourinho after top Inter Milan display

Moroccan international Brahim Díaz received special praise from Real Madrid manager José Mourinho following his impressive performance in the Spanish giants’ 2–1 victory over Inter Milan in their Champions League opener.

Mourinho handed Díaz a starting role, and the Moroccan international repaid the coach’s faith with a disciplined and energetic display that went beyond his attacking responsibilities.

The 27-year-old played an important tactical role in helping Real Madrid contain Inter’s threat, particularly through his work without the ball alongside Brazil international Vinícius Júnior.

Mourinho was impressed by the duo’s defensive contribution, explaining how their positioning helped Real Madrid close down the central areas and force Inter to play through the wider channels.

“Vinícius and Brahim did a very good job closing down the center, allowing the full-backs to apply pressure from the outside,” Mourinho said.

Díaz’s influence was also evident in the build-up to Real Madrid’s opening goal.

The Moroccan pressed the Inter defence aggressively and won possession close to the penalty area before finding French forward Kylian Mbappé, who made no mistake as he converted the opportunity to put Real Madrid ahead in the 14th minute.

The former Manchester City and AC Milan attacker continued to pose a threat in the final third and came agonisingly close to adding his name to the scoresheet before the interval.

During stoppage time in the first half, Díaz unleashed a powerful effort that beat the goalkeeper but crashed against the post, denying him what would have been a deserved goal for his impressive contribution.

He remained heavily involved after the break, continuing to stretch and unsettle the Inter defence with his movement and creativity.

In the 58th minute, Díaz delivered a dangerous cross that created another opportunity for Real Madrid, before playing a role in another attacking move that presented Mbappé with a chance in the 66th minute.

His performance underlined his growing importance to Mourinho, particularly in high-profile matches where Real Madrid require players capable of combining attacking quality with tactical discipline.

For Díaz, the display represented another important step in establishing himself as a trusted option for the Spanish giants in major European fixtures.

Real Madrid ultimately secured a 2–1 victory to begin their Champions League campaign on a positive note, with Díaz emerging as one of the standout performers in a display that earned him recognition from Mourinho for both his defensive discipline and attacking contribution.