Mourinho says Real Madrid could have scored seven in win over Inter

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said his side had enough chances to score six or seven goals against Inter despite needing a late victory in their Champions League league-phase opener.

Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to begin their campaign with three points, but Mourinho acknowledged that both teams had opportunities in an entertaining contest.

“Inter are one of the best teams in Europe, and we could have scored six or seven goals against them,” Mourinho said in a television interview after the match.

He also felt Inter created enough chances to have scored several times themselves, but credited Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with making the difference.

“Inter could also have scored three or four goals, but the best goalkeeper in the world, Courtois, was with us,” he added.

Mourinho said the visitors had suffered more than his own team during the match, which he described as unusually open and difficult to control.

“Inter suffered more than us. It was a crazy match. I am very happy with my team’s performance, and I expected the difficulties that we faced,” he said.

The Real Madrid manager admitted, however, that his side’s midfield did not perform as he had hoped. He also pointed to a lack of alternatives on the substitutes’ bench, which limited his ability to change the rhythm of the game.

“The midfield was not as we wanted. We did not have the substitutes to make changes and bring fresh energy to the team,” Mourinho said.

Real Madrid were without Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler, who were suspended after accumulating yellow cards.

Mourinho also reflected on the contrast between this victory and Real Madrid’s recent league defeat by Real Betis. Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Real Betis in the fourth round of La Liga, despite the manager believing that performance had been stronger than some of their wins.

“I like to play well and win as well. Against Betis, we played well but did not win. The best match we have played is the only match we lost,” he said.

The victory over Inter provides Real Madrid with a positive start to a demanding league-phase schedule. Mourinho warned that the club would face several strong opponents in the competition, specifically naming Inter and Arsenal among the teams capable of presenting a major test.

“We will face very strong teams in the Champions League, such as Inter and Arsenal,” he said.

Real Madrid’s remaining league-phase fixtures are away to Arsenal, at home to PSV Eindhoven, away to Roma, at home to RB Leipzig, away to Shakhtar, at home to LASK and away to AEK Athens.