Late goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin sparked exuberant celebrations from the manager
Jose Mourinho has revealed he apologised to Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa after his energetic celebrations on Wednesday.
Mourinho’s Benfica beat Madrid 4-2 but the last goal came in the 8th minute of stoppage time, goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin going up the field to head in a freekick that allowed his side to qualify for the last-16 playoffs on goal difference.
When the goal went in, Mourinho ran down the sidelines, hugging a ball boy and fist-pumping in the direction of the fans, while Arbeloa looked on from the Madrid technical area.
Arbeloa played under Mourinho at Madrid from 2010 to 2013 and retains huge respect for his old boss. After he was appointed earlier this month he said “it was a privilege and honour to be coached by Jose Mourinho”, and earlier this week he admitted he could still phone Mourinho up and ask for help were he ever to desperately need it.
“I apologise for how I celebrated,” Mourinho said out of respect in his post-match interview. “But Alvaro is a football man, and he understood perfectly that in that moment, you forget that it’s Real Madrid, and that’s Alvaro on the bench, and [Madrid delegate] Chendo and all your people, you forget everything. I’ve apologised.”
The former Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Porto, Roma and Fenerbahce coach said he was confused towards the end, not initially aware his side still needed an extra goal to qualify for the playoffs, having led since the break.
“When I made the last changes, [Franjo] Ivanovic and [Antonio] Silva, I was told [the scoreline] is enough, so let’s close the door,” Mourinho revealed.
“A few seconds later, then they tell me we need one more goal, but I cannot make more changes. That was the lucky point, to get the free kick, to allow us to go there with the big guy.
“I’ve won and lost many matches, but I had never won one with my goalkeeper scoring in the last minute. I thought I had seen everything in football, but in the end, I hadn’t.”
