Real Madrid defeated Internazionale 2-1 in their first Champions League group stage match, and Mourinho spoke to CBS Sports after the match.

First, it's great to see you back here for the Champions League. It feels like you never left.

I was here last season with Benfica.

Yes, but now you're here as Real Madrid's coach in the Champions League. It feels like we've never seen you anywhere else.

The Champions League is the Champions League. I also enjoyed it very much last season with Benfica. But coming to Real Madrid, you feel a different... I don't want to say a different motivation, nor do I want to say a different responsibility, because I had both of those completely with Benfica as well.

But at Real Madrid, you feel the weight of the club's history. Let's start now. There are eight matches in the Champions League group stage, so the first, second, or third match are not decisive. They're not. But if you can start like we did today, getting three points against a top team, a high-quality team, that's a very good start.

The players are saying they've already felt the "Mourinho effect" and showed today on the field what you wanted them to do. So what satisfied you today, and what didn't satisfy you as much?

As for the things I wasn't satisfied with, I won't blame anyone, because I knew this situation might happen. Our starting midfield was relatively fragile, and I didn't have enough players on the bench to make adjustments. I could understand how the game was developing and knew how to adjust, but there weren't suitable players available on the bench.

Tchouaméni could only play 10 to 12 minutes, no more. So it was really difficult. I knew the game would open up sooner or later, so I wanted to settle the game before it completely opened up. But of course, the opponent was very, very strong, and they created many difficult situations. Courtois was very important for us.

At the same time, we also wasted too many chances. So the game could have ended with a very high score—5-4, 6-5, or 7-4, all possible.

This game certainly looked very exciting. In such a short time, are you already starting to see a team with the potential to win the Champions League? Once all those players return, will there only be a few details left to resolve?

The Champions League doesn't end until May, and this is just the first match. All we need to do is get, I don't know, about 15 or 16 points to qualify directly, and then take it step by step. I think we will qualify. This win today has given us a big boost.

Of course, we are a strong team, capable of getting points anywhere. So I think we will qualify. But the real Champions League only begins in the knockout stages.

Is it interesting to face your old club? Did you enjoy the match?

No, it's difficult. I tried to treat it as a normal match, but it wasn't a normal match.

I tried to stay focused, and for those 90 minutes, I did. But I couldn't celebrate. You know, of course, I was very happy to win the match, but I couldn't celebrate in front of them.

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