Mijatovic praises Mourinho’s instinct after Real Madrid comeback

“His old wolf’s instinct changed the match”: Mijatovic summed up Mourinho’s influence after Real Madrid beat Roma 4-3. Trailing 3-1, Real Madrid turned the game around in the final 10 minutes. Speaking on SER, Mijatovic said the coach’s substitutions were decisive in the comeback.

The former player praised Mourinho for waiting until the right moment to make his move. “He was fantastic, waiting for the right moment and even taking off players who might have been unhappy, like Vinícius, to bring on players who come off the bench with more desire. That changed the match,” he said.

Mijatovic also believes the win could matter to players who do not start as often. The match, he said, shows them they can play an important role without being in the starting line-up, while the comeback gives them confidence. He also praised Mourinho’s ability to know which players he can rely on and when to bring them in.

Mijatovic’s assessment did not remove his reservations about the performance. “There are many things Real Madrid have to improve, and Mourinho knows it,” he said. He explained that the first half had worried him, particularly against a Roma side that plays man-to-man and demands a substantial effort. In his view, after a disappointing first half, Mourinho anticipated that the opposition would not be able to sustain that pace until the end.