José Mourinho marks Real Madrid return with late drama and touch of humility
The old master is back at Madrid as he begins with celebrations, frustrations and finally relief at Espanyol
TL;DR
- José Mourinho won his first match back in charge of Real Madrid with a 90th-minute goal from Carlos Espí.
- Mourinho showed a calmer sideline presence compared to his past experiences.
- Carlos Espí, an unexpected scorer, was signed to be an old-school No. 9 striker.
- The match against Espanyol revealed some of Real Madrid's old flaws but ultimately ended in a victory.
- President Florentino Pérez had a long-standing desire to bring Mourinho back to the club.
- Mourinho emphasized the need for commitment and suggested he has the authority to enforce changes.
- Jude Bellingham scored the first goal from a free-kick after a foul on Vinícius Júnior.
- Espanyol equalized, showing resilience against Real Madrid's initial dominance.
- Mourinho acknowledged that Espanyol did not deserve to lose the match.