coach Mourinho begins Real Madrid's Euro campaign with a resounding 2-0 victory against Ajax
Coach Mourinho begins real Madrid's Euro campaign with a resounding 2-0 victory against Ajax
Real Madrid's bid to win a 10th European Cup began with a 2-0 win over Ajax at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Group G opener last night.
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| u00a0Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring during their UEFA Champions League match against Ajax Amsterdam at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid last night. Pics/AFP |
Coach Jose Mourinho won the Champions League with Inter Milan at the Bernabeu in May and his European bow with Real was a success with an own goal and a Gonzalo Higuain strike sealing a comfortable group victory.
An own goal from 21-year-old defender Vurnon Anita gave Mourinho his first European goal as Real coach on 31 minutes and Higuain scored on 73 minutes with his first goal of the campaign.
It was three points and another clean sheet for Real who have yet to concede a goal in their three games under Mourinho who believes Real are ready to win the trophy for the first time since 2002 .
"We created a lot more chances," said goalscorer Higuain. "We could have won by more but we are happy to start the campaign with three points.
We have time to correct things and improve as a team as it is still early in the season."
Madrid fans jeered their team in Saturday's 1-0 league win over Osasuna and Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most expensive player, had caused a stir saying the supporters should spend their energy supporting their team rather than whistling.
Mourinho refused to discipline Ronaldo over the outburst and the Portuguese star started on the right wing with Argentine Angel di Maria on the other flank to supply target-man Higuain.
