Athens, Greece: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho lauded his team's remarkable composure and fighting spirit after their dramatic 3-2 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League. Mourinho, known for his candid remarks, stated that no other team possesses Real Madrid's unique ability to snatch wins in the dying minutes, a quality he believes evokes 'positive envy' from rival managers.

The fifteen-time champions secured a hard-fought win, climbing to second place in their group, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Federico Valverde. Mourinho specifically highlighted England's Jude Bellingham, who was also on the scoresheet, calling him a 'unique player' with unparalleled completeness across all aspects of the game. "There is no midfielder in the world who has this amount of completeness at every level," Mourinho emphasized, praising Bellingham's work rate, leadership, and goal-scoring ability.

Despite a wealth of talent, including Brazil's Endrick, some players are seeing limited minutes. Mourinho, however, views this as a strength, noting that his robust bench offers numerous options and is a source of 'positive envy' among his peers. He stressed that as long as the players prioritize the team's success over individual ambitions, the squad will remain exceptionally strong.

The match itself was a rollercoaster. AEK Athens took an early lead through Aboubakary Koita. Bellingham equalized with a superb backheel after an initial goal was disallowed for offside. Koita then assisted Stavro Pilo to put Athens ahead again in the 75th minute. However, Kylian Mbappe quickly leveled the score, and Federico Valverde sealed the victory with a powerful shot in the final moments, showcasing Real Madrid's signature late-game resilience.

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