Mourinho’s two-part message to Real Madrid players after 2-1 win vs Inter Milan

Mourinho’s two-part message to Real Madrid players after 2-1 win vs Inter Milan Real Madrid managed to pull through and secure a narrow 2-1 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League. The performance was far from their best, with the Nerazzurri causing plenty of problems for Real Madrid, while they were also guilty of missing a large number of chances in the final third. Nevertheless, according to AS , the coaching staff, led by manager Jose Mourinho, see a lot of positives from the win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Mourinho’s message Indeed, as per the report, Mourinho has delivered a two-part message to his players after the victory over Inter: he is pleased with their ability to suffer, compete and press effectively to secure the result, but he also knows there is plenty of room for improvement. Internally, the manager was not completely satisfied with the team’s performance. However, he has chosen to focus on the positives and reinforce one particular message to his players: when a team cannot play at its best, finding a way to win still matters above everything else. The coach was fully aware of the challenge Inter presented, particularly given the number of absences in midfield. He, therefore, placed greater emphasis on the team’s ability to compete, withstand pressure and produce when it mattered most. Mourinho saw plenty of positives. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Mourinho was particularly pleased with the way his players followed the pre-match plan when pressing high up the pitch. Furthermore, for Mourinho, the victory demonstrated character. As such, there were no reproaches for the players. Plenty of reasons for optimism The coaching staff have identified several positives from the performance, with Real Madrid recovering 11 balls in the opposition half. That is an important part of the identity Mourinho wants his developing team to establish. The pressing game is already producing results, despite some players still lacking full match fitness after joining the squad later in pre-season. Real Madrid could also have won far more convincingly had their forwards converted the chances they created. The team produced nine clear opportunities in all, but were unable to take them. Areas for improvement The positives do not hide the areas that still concern Mourinho. Chief among them is the control of matches. Room for improvement remains. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Real Madrid had less than 40% possession, the lowest figure of any team involved in this Champions League round. The absence of Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva played a significant role, but Mourinho knows there are other factors that need addressing. The Portuguese coach also wants his side to concede fewer chances. Courtois was required to make six important saves against Inter, underlining how exposed Madrid became at certain stages. Mourinho is therefore working on reducing the team’s vulnerability and ensuring they do not expose themselves unnecessarily during matches. With the analysis now delivered to the squad, Mourinho expects the players to put the lessons into practice when Real Madrid return to the Bernabeu against Rayo Vallecano.