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Jose Mourinho entered the post-match press conference holding a sheet of paper showcasing images of two controversial incidents from the first half of the match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. For Mourinho, these visuals encapsulated the story of the derby, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for his team.<\/p>\n
“We could skip the press conference because the real story of the match is right here,” he stated, displaying the photos. “Those were two clear red cards.”<\/p>\n
In true Mourinho fashion, rather than acknowledge Atletico’s victory or discuss Real Madrid’s performance, he immediately shifted the focus to the officials. He expressed his outrage that Cristian Romero was not sent off for a stamp on Jude Bellingham, and that Lee Kang-in avoided a red card for his tackle on Federico Valverde.<\/p>\n
Mourinho’s perspective was straightforward: if both Atletico players had received red cards, Real Madrid would have had 50 minutes to play against just nine men. Instead, it was his side that ended up with only ten players on the field.<\/p>\n
“The challenges we faced after the sending-off were tough. Eleven players against ten is not ideal, but we can only imagine what it would have been like with 11 against 9 if justice had been served,” he explained.<\/p>\n
The game’s turning point arrived shortly after halftime when Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was shown a red card for bringing down Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area. Alejandro Grimaldo converted the subsequent penalty to put Atletico ahead, and Jonathan David scored again just six minutes later. Although Antonio Rudiger managed to score a late header for Real Madrid, Atletico secured the victory, climbing above their city rivals in the standings.<\/p>\n
Despite the defeat, Mourinho refrained from criticizing his players. He acknowledged their skill and determination, especially during the first half, and commended their effort despite being down a player. “I just want to embrace my players, they gave everything. They played with great quality and personality in the first half,” he remarked.<\/p>\n
Mourinho also took aim at the officiating. He expressed concerns over the choice of Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias as referee, arguing that at just 41 years old and without international credentials, the stakes may have been too high for him. He described the pressure during the match as reminiscent of Spanish football in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
“They appointed a referee with no international experience, which definitely doesn’t suggest he\u2019s one of the best. It was a pressure-packed environment, which you don\u2019t often see today,” Mourinho said.<\/p>\n
He further directed his critique toward VAR official Daniel Jesus Trujillo, questioning why intervention occurred for one incident but not for another.<\/p>\n
“With a referee who hasn’t managed big matches and a VAR official with a more extensive history, it’s puzzling,” he noted.<\/p>\n
Mourinho admitted he wasn\u2019t certain about Huijsen\u2019s red card, commenting he hadn\u2019t reviewed the incident on his iPad and wasn’t ready to judge whether the foul occurred inside or outside the box. “I still haven’t seen it. It was too far for me to make a decision. I don\u2019t know,” he stated.<\/p>\n
The loss leaves Real Madrid six points behind leaders Barcelona, but Mourinho remained optimistic about the title race, insisting it is far from over. He expressed frustration about the circumstances his team is facing, hoping for a fair competition.<\/p>\n
“If we’re allowed to compete on equal footing with everyone else, there\u2019s still a long way to go,” he said. He carefully avoided claiming the refereeing decisions were intentional, stating he believes any errors made were just that\u2014mistakes.<\/p>\n
When asked about Mourinho\u2019s comments, Atletico coach Diego Simeone chose to sidestep the referee debate, urging his fellow coaches to be mindful of their words. “We all need to be careful about what we say. It\u2019s important to maintain respect. Crossing the line isn\u2019t acceptable,” he said.<\/p>\n
Atletico’s victory pushed them to 16 points, trailing Barcelona by five and sitting just ahead of both Real Madrid and Real Betis.
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