Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho made a striking entrance at his post-match press conference, holding a printed sheet of A4 paper with screenshots of two incidents he believed warranted red cards during the 2-1 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Portuguese manager was visibly frustrated, stating that the story of the match was right there on the paper. Mourinho's anger centered on two first-half challenges that he felt should have reduced Atletico to nine men.
The first incident occurred in the 37th minute, when a clash between Real's Jude Bellingham and Atletico's Cristian Romero ended with replays showing Romero making contact with his studs on Bellingham's knee. Bellingham initially received a yellow card before VAR intervened and reversed the decision, booking Romero instead. Mourinho felt the Argentine should have been sent off. The second incident involved a challenge by Atletico's Lee Kang-in on Fede Valverde, which Mourinho argued was a straightforward red card offence.
Mourinho questioned the match officials' appointment, stopping short of accusing them of deliberate wrongdoing. "I want to believe they are simply mistakes, just as a coach makes mistakes, just as a player makes mistakes," he said. Despite the frustration, Mourinho was full of praise for his players. The defeat drops Real Madrid to fourth in the table, while Atletico sit second, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone pushed back at Mourinho's refereeing complaints, warning coaches to stay within the bounds of respect. The tension between the two coaches was palpable, with Mourinho's comments sparking a heated debate about referee decisions in the league. Mourinho's concerns were not limited to the two incidents, as he also questioned the dismissal of Dean Huijsen, which handed Atletico a penalty.
Mourinho was not ready to write off his side's title prospects just yet, despite the setback. He expressed confidence in his team's abilities and hinted that they could have made a difference if they had played with 11 men against 9. The Real Madrid manager emphasized that his team would learn from the experience and move forward.
In a separate note, Mourinho shared his views on the 2026 Ballon d'Or race, arguing that winning the Champions League or World Cup alone should not determine football's top individual award. He reportedly backed Kylian Mbappé for the award, sparking debate among football fans. Mourinho's comments on the Ballon d'Or have generated significant interest, given his experience and expertise in the sport.
The controversy surrounding referee decisions in the match has sparked a wider debate about the use of VAR in the league. Fans and pundits have been discussing the incidents, with some calling for greater consistency and accuracy in referee decisions. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will fare in the league, and whether Mourinho's concerns about referee decisions will be addressed.
Key points
- Mourinho's frustration with referee decisions
- Real Madrid's defeat to Atletico Madrid
- Mourinho's views on the 2026 Ballon d'Or race
