*Stupid Mistakes Cost Us, Says Pedri
*Defeats To PSG, Madrid Create No Doubts Among Us – Flick
José Mourinho said he’s setting his sights even higher after Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in Sunday’s Clásico, saying “Real Madrid play to win the league, not to win at Camp Nou.”
Kylian Mbappé scored twice — including a dramatic 87th-minute winner — to give Madrid the victory in LaLiga, closing the gap between the two sides at the top of the table to three points.
Barça remain top of LaLiga, two points clear of Atlético. They return to action next Saturday when they host Alavés.
It’s only the second victory by Los Blancos over Barcelona in three years of eight El Clasico matches, with the Catalans winning six even as Real Madrid have not won La Liga or any trophy at all in the last two years.
Mourinho’s team have now won five games in a row in all competitions, but speaking in his post-match news conference, the coach insisted that he’s not getting carried away with their form.
“This is a great win, but when we get back to work, I’m not going to let anyone have their head in the clouds,” Mourinho said. “If we win today and lose at El Sardinero [away at Racing Santander next weekend]… Real Madrid don’t play to win at Camp Nou, but rather to win the league. We have to keep going.”
Mbappé put Madrid ahead in the 41st minute on Sunday, as defender Gerard Martín’s attempted clearance rebounded off the forward and into the net.
Raphinha levelled, before Mbappé finished off a stunning Madrid counterattack late on, with substitute Eduardo Camavinga providing the assist.
“I think it was a great game,” Mourinho said. “A game at a high level, a game which the world that loves football stopped to see, and they weren’t let down… In our case, the boys played an extraordinary game, well organised, focused, with a lot of courage.
“For me it’s a great victory for the boys, against a great opponent. The boys deserve it.”
Reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin had to step in for Thibaut Courtois at Camp Nou, who had the flu.
Mourinho confirmed captain Federico Valverde had picked up an injury early in the match, but opted to continue playing to help his teammates.
“Valverde played injured for over 40 minutes,” he said. “He got injured, he wanted to carry on. He wanted to go to the limit. He gave everything on the field.”
Pedri Says Barcelona Paid For Stupid Mistakes
Barcelona midfielder Pedri lamented stupid makes and slowness on the ball as Barcelona’s perfect start to the LaLiga season was ended by Real Madrid in the Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou.
“In general, we didn’t play well,” Pedri told DAZN. “We were not ourselves in the first half. There are a lot of things we could have done better.
“We got back on level terms in the second half, but we did not defend the second goal well — from a transition, as well, which we knew they could do.
“But, above all, in the first half we were really slow, we lost the ball stupidly a lot and you pay for those mistakes.”
Defeats To PSG, Madrid Create No Doubts Among Us – Flick
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick refused to label the defeats to PSG in Champions League midweek and yesterday to Real Madrid, a “reality check,” instead saying tiredness was the reason for the losses.
“It’s two defeats, so of course we are not happy; we are disappointed,” Flick said in the post-game news conference.
“The first half was not good. The second half, after the equaliser, was better. I think also we controlled the game. We missed a little bit of luck. But they played well, they didn’t give us much space.
“Also, you could see today (yesterday) we missed the freshness. It’s about this. It’s the first defeat in LaLiga. We won nine in a row [in the league]. But it happens, defeats are a part of the game,” he noted.
Flick said the results against PSG and Madrid will “not create doubts” around his team, instead doubling down on the fatigue his players are suffering and a defensive injury list which includes Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé and Eric García — and now Xavi Espart, who was taken off in the first half of the Clásico.
“No, no [doubts], that is clear,” he added. “Everyone knows the situation, that we don’t play very good. But in the big games, small things are important. They decide the games.
“We played against an opponent that has huge quality. They were better against the ball than in the Clásico in previous years.
“Like I said, you saw today we missed the freshness. After these weeks, it was not easy for my players. We have to now focus again and recover well.
“Maybe the most important point is the injuries we have in defence, also Dani [Olmo]. We have to manage it. At the end, in the defence, we had not a lot of options.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Mbappe wheels away in joy after scoring… yesterday.
