The former Real Madrid player and football director believes the coach’s reading of the game helped turn a seemingly lost contest into a victory, with substitutes Arda Güler, Endrick and Carlos Espí all contributing to the recovery.
Real Madrid were trailing 3-1 in the 83rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, but Espí reduced the deficit before Endrick headed the equaliser and Antonio Rüdiger struck the winner. Güler delivered the corners that led to all three goals, completing a remarkable turnaround in the closing minutes.
Speaking to Cadena SER’s El Larguero, Mijatović singled out Mourinho’s decision to change the game from the bench, including replacing Vinícius Júnior despite the Brazilian’s visible frustration at being taken off.
“Mourinho was fantastic, waiting for the right moment and even substituting players who might get upset, like Vinícius, to bring on people who come off the bench with more desire. That changed the match,” Mijatović said.
He described the coach’s judgement as the instinct of an experienced operator who understands which players can make a difference at particular moments.
The former Yugoslavia international had been concerned by Madrid’s first-half display, particularly because Roma’s man-to-man approach demanded sustained physical effort. He believed Mourinho anticipated that the hosts might struggle to maintain the same intensity deep into the match.
“The first half had me a little worried, especially knowing how Roma play. They always go man-to-man, and that means a huge amount of work over 90 minutes. Mourinho knew the first half had been poor and trusted that, in the final stages, they wouldn’t be able to maintain that rhythm,” he explained.
The comeback could also have consequences beyond the three points. Mijatović argued that the performance gave Mourinho additional options by demonstrating that players who are not regular starters can still influence important matches.
“This match teaches Mourinho that he has several options in players who can have a role without necessarily starting. Coming back from this result is a confidence boost for those same players, who don’t get as many minutes,” he said.
Mijatović added that Mourinho appeared to understand which players he could trust and when to use them, a quality that proved decisive in Rome.
However, he did not regard the comeback as proof that Madrid had solved their wider problems.
“There are many things Real Madrid have to improve, and Mourinho knows that,” he said.
The dramatic victory offered a reminder of Madrid’s ability to recover in Europe, while also highlighting the importance of Mourinho’s choices and the contributions of players waiting for their opportunity.