Mourinho, mourning, targets three years and Champions League playoffs with Real

The death, at thirty years old, of Tenerife defender Jesús de Miguel, which occurred after a nasty tackle, prompted José Mourinho to intervene at the AEK Athens press conference ahead of the Champions League match, and he expressed his condolences to the player's family and friends.

“It’s something very shocking for everyone, even more so for us who are on the pitch every day, competing,” said the Special One. “It’s hard, very sad. The words and feelings go out to the family and friends of Jesús. It must be a very complicated moment also for the other player involved in the situation. It’s sad for everyone.”

Valverde’s role

Mou then shifted the focus to the pitch to talk about Federico Valverde. “I see Fede as a hugely important player for the team. Being the captain of Real Madrid makes him look at things differently. When you’re the captain you have to be different. It’s a responsibility and I believe this will make him play in any role needed for his team and his teammates.”

“The squad was built to play with Valverde in midfield. That means we don’t have many players in midfield and, lacking many options, he will certainly return to playing in the middle of the pitch. If you ask me whether I’m happy that he’s playing as a full‑back, yes. If you ask me whether the team is playing better from that side, yes.”

“But in midfield we have Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bernardo, Thiago and that’s it. That’s why I say Fede will play as a full‑back, because he’s very popular with all of us, but he will also have to play in midfield.”

Tenerife president promises psychological aid after Jesús de Miguel dies

“Here Madrid have won only once out of eight, there must be a reason,” Mourinho observed on the difficulty of playing in Athens.

“Don’t forget about Brahim, about Endrick… There we have a lot of quality people. Diomande can play on both flanks, Brahim as well, Endrick on the right but also on the left… Of all of them, Vini is the most suitable player to play on the left wing. Vinicius will be in the starting eleven.”

“It would be the third win with three different clubs, it would be winning it with the biggest club in the world… But the reality is that we lack points to qualify. We are close to the playoffs, but not to direct qualification for the round of 16. Tomorrow is a difficult match, but we have to win.”

Spanish striker Jesús de Miguel dies following on‑field collision

Three years.