After scoring the winning goal with a long-range shot, Valverde praised the team's resilience and trust.

In a Champions League match that just concluded, Real Madrid fought hard at home and ultimately came from behind to defeat AEK Athens 3-2.

Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde was the key figure in the team's victory. He came on as a substitute in the 67th minute, replacing Diomande, and scored a long-range shot late in the game to help the team secure the win.

In a post-match interview, Valverde admitted that the difficulty of the game exceeded the advantage on the field: "As we expected before the game, it was a very difficult and close match."

"Although we controlled the tempo of the game throughout, it wasn't easy to create clear-cut chances and convert them into goals against the opponent's tight defense. We must pay tribute to the team's hard work and effort, and we need to continue this momentum."

Speaking about falling behind early in the game, Valverde said the goal conceded did not shake the team's morale: "Conceding the goal did have an impact on us, but the whole team quickly regained our composure and resolutely executed the coaching staff's tactical plan for the whole week. After conceding the goal, we quickly regained control of the game, maintained our attacking pressure, and showed our consistent desire to win recently."

Valverde emphasized the trust within the team when discussing the team's ability to repeatedly pull off last-minute comebacks: "This is entirely due to the mutual belief between the coaching staff and the players."

"The coaching staff on the bench always gave us energy and confidence, and this support was especially evident in the final stages of the game. Even when the opponent scored a second goal and the situation became hopeless, we never gave up trying and ultimately achieved another comeback."

Image source: Internet/BBC official website