Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho arrived at his post-match press conference carrying an A4 sheet of printed images as he challenged two refereeing decisions following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho used screenshots to argue that Atletico should have been reduced to nine men during the first half, claiming two challenges should have resulted in red cards.
The defeat was Real Madrid’s second of the season, following their 1-0 loss to Real Betis earlier in September.
“We can skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” Mourinho said as he displayed the printed images.
He then pointed to the two incidents he believed warranted dismissals.
“Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like.”
Despite the defeat, Mourinho praised his players for their effort and character, particularly during the first half.
Mourinho questions two first-half decisions
The first incident involved Jude Bellingham and Cristian Romero in the 37th minute.
The two players challenged for a loose ball, with Bellingham initially receiving a yellow card following the collision.
Mourinho appealed for Romero to be sent off, arguing that the Atletico defender had made dangerous contact with Bellingham’s knee with his studs.
Following a VAR review, Bellingham’s yellow card was withdrawn, while Romero was shown a yellow card.
The second incident involved Lee Kang-in’s challenge on Fede Valverde, which Mourinho believed warranted a straight red card.
The Portuguese manager also questioned the appointment of the match officials but stopped short of alleging deliberate wrongdoing.
“I want to believe they are simply mistakes, just as a coach makes mistakes, just as a player makes mistakes,” he said.
Mourinho praises Real Madrid despite defeat
Mourinho insisted he had no complaints about his players’ commitment and said he was proud of their performance.
“I liked my team as a unit. Even in the first half I really liked them, and in the second half it was obviously very difficult to get the ball and to stop Atleti’s possession.”
He added that he appreciated the team’s pride and determination despite the difficult circumstances.
Mourinho also addressed Dean Huijsen’s dismissal, which resulted in Atletico being awarded a penalty. He admitted, however, that he had not yet watched the VAR replay of the incident.
The defeat leaves Real Madrid fourth in the league standings, while Atletico moved into second place, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
Despite the early setback, Mourinho stressed that the season remained long.
“Under normal circumstances, it’s not about how it starts, it’s about how it ends,” he said.
Simeone defends Atletico’s performance
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was delighted with the victory and rejected the suggestion that the refereeing controversy should overshadow his team’s performance.
Responding to Mourinho’s criticism, Simeone said coaches operating under intense public scrutiny must be careful about their comments.
“We have to know how to respect others, the referees, our colleagues, and we all lose out. And when someone crosses that line of respect, it’s not right – you can’t cross that line,” he said.
Simeone maintained that Atletico controlled the match and praised his players for their organisation, teamwork and defensive discipline.
“The match I watched was an intense one, where I think we controlled it at all times,” he said.
He acknowledged the quality of Real Madrid’s players and their ability to transition quickly but said Atletico successfully limited their opportunities.
Simeone added that his team’s collective effort, defensive structure and movement allowed them to exploit areas where they believed Real Madrid could be vulnerable.
La Liga will now pause for the international break, with league action scheduled to resume on Friday, October 9.
