Federico Valverde Hails Real Madrid's Comeback Spirit After AEK Win

After a match that became quite complicated in Athens, Real Madrid was able to come out ahead and turn the score around as usual. For this to happen, the team's established stars had to appear, such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and, of course, the captain, Federico Valverde. He had started the match on the bench, but came on in the second half for Bernardo Silva.

The Uruguayan was the one in charge of sealing the comeback with a powerful shot from outside the area that kept opening toward the corner, so AEK goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli, no matter how much he stretched his arms, was not able to stop the ball. His teammates, specifically Endrick, ran and pulled him to the grass to celebrate that very important goal that gave Madrid a key victory to climb to second place in the Champions League overall table.

Later, at the end of the match, the captain attended the media in the mixed zone to talk about his feelings about the victory they had just achieved. "Congratulate our team for coming back twice; that means we are with good energy and good spirits. We knew that they defended very well in their area, that they left space outside the area for us to shoot... and today it went in, which sometimes does not go in," he said.

Valverde also spoke about what it meant to concede first, complicating a match that was already difficult in itself. "A match as we knew it, very tight, complicated. I think we dominated, but it was hard for us to arrive. Congratulate the team on the effort and the work, and keep going like this. The goal affected us, but the team kept playing its game. Sometimes it is hard when you concede; we put a lot of desire into it, and I am happy for the whole group."

In addition, he thanked the entire coaching staff and his teammates. "It is to the credit of the coaching staff and ours for trusting in all our teammates. It shows in the last minutes: the team does not stop trying. It seemed like it was going to be very hard for us after conceding the second, and we came back again. There are times when I think about it a lot. I thank my teammates because, because of them, I have that impulse to hit it."

Finally, he spoke about Vinicius Jr.'s return to the starting eleven and his performance in the match. "The important thing is that, even if he misses, he keeps trying, keeps contributing. That energy we all have, he gives to the team; there is good chemistry, and good things will come. One works with less pressure, enjoys it because things are working out. And tomorrow, back to training," Valverde concluded.