Real Madrid pulled off a dramatic comeback against Roma on matchday two of the Champions League, going from a 3-1 deficit to a 4-3 victory. The Uruguayan midfielder FedeValverde, who has been a key player in the club's last phase, highlighted the character of his team and the “rebellion” that allowed them to change the course of the match.
The match began with a very even first half, where neither the whites nor Roma managed to create many clear chances. Valverde described that, despite having trained with a specific plan, the team did not manage to get him out in the initial phase. “We worked on a lot of things and we didn't know how to get them out,” explained the player, adding that the situation of being down on the scoreboard was what activated the response. “With rebellion, we began to do what we had worked on,” he stated, referring to internal mobility and the creation of spaces for one-on-one matches.
The decisive moment came in the last ten minutes, when Real Madrid scored a series of goals that restored the lead. Striker TomásEspí opened the scoring with a goal, followed by Endrick and defender Rüdiger, who completed the comeback. Valverde acknowledged that the match had become “difficult” and that, if they had executed the training plan with more precision, the match would have been less complicated. “It went uphill for us due to our own mistakes,” commented the midfielder.
Team captain Valverde also praised the performance of the substitutes, highlighting the energy and concentration they showed. “Congratulate those who have entered, they have done so with incredible enthusiasm, that shows that we are all focused,” he said. In particular, he highlighted the performance of Endrick, who was also key in Espí's goal, and expressed his satisfaction with the coach's support. "I'm happy for him. The mystic had said it a few days ago, that he needed all the players, that he congratulated those who had fewer minutes. Each player gives their best," he added.
Finally, Valverde made reference to his own change of position, going from midfielder to full-back during the match. "The important thing is to win, as the mystic said, if things go well, we have to move forward. I, happy to continue taking many minutes, enjoy playing with this shield, I had a lot of space to run. Grateful that the mystic continues to trust me," he concluded. The result puts Real Madrid in a favorable position in the group stage, while Roma will have to review their strategy to avoid future relegations in the table.