Pachuca Coach: 'Tonight, We Witnessed the World's Best Player'

In the aftermath of Pachuca's 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, head coach Guillermo Almada acknowledged the superior quality of the Spanish side, particularly singling out Vinícius Júnior for praise. Almada remarked, 'He is the best player in the world, and we saw that on the field. Along with Mbappé, they are the top players globally.' He emphasized the difficulty in containing Vinícius, stating, 'He has a level that makes it very difficult to control him consistently. Until the first goal, he hadn't appeared much, but just one moment was decisive for him. It's impossible to mark him over 90 minutes.'

Almada also reflected on the match dynamics, noting, 'They had relative control over the game, but in every attacking move, these players can break you. Yes, I agree that Real Madrid's level was much higher. Just a momentary lapse in concentration, and they can change the game's outcome. All three goals were very similar. We had control in many parts, but their attacks were decisive.'

Despite the loss, Almada found positives, particularly for his younger players, stating, 'We have many young players, and this game will help many of them grow.' He also mentioned brief interactions with Federico Valverde and Carlo Ancelotti, expressing admiration for their contributions to football.