https://orange1079fm.com/i-am-very-happy-says-cucurella-after-real-madrid-debut/Real Madrid left it late against Espanyol in their opening game of the season on Saturday night, but manager Jose Mourinho believes the hosts did not deserve to lose 2-1.
The Portuguese coach was happy with his side’s late win as he marked his return to La Liga after 13 years.
Real Madrid came into the game as favourites and quickly stamped their authority at the RCDE Stadium in the opening minutes.
Jude Bellingham gave Mourinho’s side a deserved lead in the ninth minute when he rose highest to meet a free-kick whipped in from the left by Arda Guler.
Los Blancos could have doubled their advantage minutes later if not for their profligacy in front of goal.
Espanyol found their equaliser on the 30-minute mark through Alex Calatrava, and that was enough to see the sides level at half-time.
The visitors tried to restore their advantage after the break, but all their efforts were thwarted by Manolo Gonzalez’s men.
It seemed the game was heading for a stalemate until substitute and summer signing Carlos Espi popped up from nowhere to take advantage of a defensive mix-up to give Real Madrid a last-gasp victory.
In an interview with the media after the game, Mourinho praised his men for the win but was quick to acknowledge that their opponents did not deserve to lose.
“I think we deserved to win, but Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose,” the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager said.
“We played, especially in the second half, with great control and pressure. We took many risks, and I think we deserved to win.
“But a team like Espanyol, defending as they did, counter-attacking dangerously, with players pushing themselves to the limit and being very well-organised, it’s tough for them to go home with nothing. But I repeat, we deserved the victory.
“When we talk about the defensive system, there’s one thing I cannot overlook: the physical condition of a team.
“They didn’t have any players at the World Cup and have been working together for a long time, and you can see it in the way they maintain this intensity of play.”
