Mourinho praises Carlos Espí: “I couldn’t be happier with him”

Real Madrid left Seville with a 1-0 defeat, but Carlos Espí needed only a brief appearance to give José Mourinho another reason to trust him. The young striker found the net with a spectacular bicycle kick, although the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

The decision did not change Mourinho’s assessment of the player. Speaking after the match, the Madrid coach made it clear that Espí had done exactly what was expected of him.

AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT FROM THE BENCH

Madrid were chasing the game after Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 81st minute. Mourinho introduced Espí to provide a central reference against Betis’ deep defensive block and create more room for Mbappé to operate between the lines.

The change nearly produced an equaliser. Espí was involved earlier in the move before meeting a cross with an acrobatic bicycle kick. The ball ended up in the net, but VAR identified an offside position during the build-up.

The goal did not count, yet the finish still demonstrated the 21-year-old’s instinct and confidence. With Madrid running out of time, Espí attacked the right area and attempted the most difficult finish available instead of hesitating.

MOURINHO SEES AN IMPORTANT PLAYER

Mourinho was asked after the match whether the young forward deserved more playing time. His answer left little doubt about how highly he rates the player.

“He did his job well. He has great potential and will continue to improve because he is humble, hardworking and wants to learn. I couldn’t be happier with him,” Mourinho said.

The coach pointed out that Espí had been given only around 10 to 15 minutes but still managed to put the ball in the net. Madrid did not gain a point from the move, but the substitute fulfilled the tactical role he had been given.

Mourinho did not offer a firm opinion on the offside decision because he had not reviewed the incident closely by the time of his press conference. His praise concerned the striker’s work: occupying the penalty area, providing a target and finishing the opportunity.

THE PRAISE DID NOT BEGIN IN SEVILLE

Espí joined Real Madrid from Levante in the summer of 2026 and signed a contract running until 30 June 2031. According to the club’s official announcement, he arrived after recording 20 goals in 66 appearances for Levante.

He quickly began making his limited opportunities count. Coming off the bench against Espanyol, Espí scored the late winner in Madrid’s 2-1 victory. Mourinho subsequently described him as the type of forward the team needed for matches requiring a stronger penalty-area presence.

The performance against Betis reinforced that assessment. Espí can occupy centre-backs, attack crosses and give Madrid a fixed reference close to goal. He does not require a large number of touches to become dangerous.

A USEFUL DIFFERENT OPTION FOR MADRID

Mourinho’s comments do not guarantee Espí a place in the starting lineup. They do show, however, that the forward is being treated as more than a depth option. The coach has already trusted him during important closing stages, and the striker has responded by finding the net against both Espanyol and Betis, even if the latter effort was disallowed.

That profile can be valuable in a squad containing several attackers who prefer to receive the ball outside the penalty area. Espí stays closer to goal and forces defenders to protect spaces they might otherwise leave.

Madrid received no reward from the trip to Seville, but the final minutes offered another positive sign. Mourinho admired the finish, yet his strongest praise was reserved for Espí’s work ethic, humility and willingness to improve.