Mourinho: Roma match was not a turning point for Real Madrid; we need points to qualify

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho said the match against Roma was not a turning point in the team’s performances, explaining that improvement comes through continued work and the accumulation of experience. He made the comments at a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with AEK Athens in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase.

Mourinho stressed the importance of taking the match seriously and collecting points, saying that Real Madrid were close to securing qualification for the play-offs but still a long way from direct qualification for the round of 16. He noted that the team had won only once in eight matches in Athens, and pointed to AEK Athens’ strength at home.

Mourinho also expressed his sadness over the death of Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel and offered his condolences to his family and friends. He described the incident as difficult and sad, and noted how hard the situation was for Jesús Owono, Andorra’s goalkeeper, who was involved in the collision that claimed De Miguel’s life.