Jose Mourinho says there is no midfielder in the world like Jude Bellingham after the England international helped Real Madrid beat AEK Athens 3-2 to maintain their perfect start in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Madrid twice came from behind to win in Greece to make it four wins from four in Europe this season, moving them level on 12 points at the top of the League Phase standings with Paris Saint-Germain.
Aboubakary Koita had given AEK a surprise lead on the night but Bellingham levelled with a sublime flicked finish from a Marc Cucurella cross in the 32nd-minute.
With his goal, Bellingham, 23, became the youngest player to score in seven successive Champions League campaigns, surpassing teammate Kylian Mbappé.
“Since I arrived, he’s been brilliant,” Mourinho said at a news conference when asked whether the former Borussia Dortmund player is in his best form.
“He’s a one-of-a-kind player; there’s no other midfielder in the world quite like him, so well-rounded in every respect. I’m lost for words, because to me he’s absolutely extraordinary.
“And even on days when he doesn’t stand out, he always brings hard work, leadership, ambition, quality, a knack for getting into scoring positions, goals…
“He’s an extraordinary player. I’ll say it again: I’m very lucky to have this squad.”
Bellingham leveled the match at 1-1 in the 32nd minute, pouncing on Marc Cucurella‘s cross with a superb backheel.
“It was just instinct really,” Bellingham said. “I found myself in a good position and managed to do the only thing that came naturally in that position. It was a nice one.”
Bellingham has five goals and four assists in 15 appearances in all competitions this season, but Mbappé and substitute Fede Valverde saved Madrid late on in Athens as they extended their winning run to seven games.
Stavro Pilo restored AEK’s lead in the 75th minute but Mbappé made it 2-2 from close range three minutes later and Valverde sealed a dramatic win in stoppage time with a drive from the edge of the box.
“I am very satisfied, obviously,” Mourinho said. “We played against a very tough side who played very well. From the very first minute, they were very compact and played direct football.
“They’re the reason we didn’t play the perfect match. But despite the difficulty, we were always in the game. We managed to respond at critical moments.
“We showed character, even whilst trailing. And in the final minute, with the match in disarray and both teams desperate to win, the side with the greater individual quality came out on top.”
VinÃcius Júnior, who is currently serving a four-match suspension in LaLiga, came into the side but could not have a direct impact on the result.
“Vini put in an acceptable performance, not an extraordinary one,” Mourinho said. “But the team didn’t put in an extraordinary performance, either. And Vinicius, in that regard, did his job well.”
The victory leaves Madrid in well placed to progress in the Champions League.
Mourinho believes they have already done enough to qualify for the knockout rounds, but wants his players to remain focused to avoid slipping out of the top eight and into a potential play-off round in the new year.
“We’ve got 12 points; I think we’ve qualified from the League Phase,” he added. “Now it’s all about avoiding the play-off round and saving ourselves two matches, because we’ve got so many.
“So we need to pick up the points we’re missing. I don’t know [how many], seven or eight points, something like that. We’ve got to get them.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
