Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Atlético Madrid in the Madrid derby. The result lifts Diego Simeone’s side to second place in the league, five points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Atlético took the lead in the second half after a penalty kick from Alejandro Grimaldo, where Huijsen was sent off for the offence that resulted in the penalty. Jonathan David doubled the lead shortly after with a powerful finish inside the sixteen-yard box after a cross from Giuliano Simeone.
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Antonio Rüdiger managed to reduce for Real Madrid late in the game, but it was too late to mount a comeback – Atlético held off and secured all three points.
Jude Bellingham points the finger
Cristian Romero launches a four-word attack on Jude Bellingham during Madrid derby
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It was a game full of controversy, with heavy tackles flying in. Cristian Romero was lucky to escape a red card after his follow-up on Jude Bellingham hit the Englishman on the knee. Lee Kang-in also escaped a penalty after he hit Federico Valverde over the ankle with his studs.
In typical José Mourinho style, he was not happy, and the press conference after the game was furious.
After the result, Mourinho was asked several questions about key moments in the match and his thoughts on the referee’s performance. He didn’t hold back.
When asked about Kang-in Lee’s tackle, he said, “Yes… We could have saved ourselves the press conference, because the story of the game is right here. [He holds up printed photographs of the tackles from Baena and Kang-in Lee.] They are two clear red cards.”
He continued: “The difficulties we had afterwards, playing 11 against 10, give you an idea of what it would be like to play 50 minutes against nine. So all I can do is hug my players, because they gave everything.”
The Portuguese manager went further and questioned the referees’ careers: “First of all: a week before the match we already knew who the referee was, when I am told that it should be 24 hours in advance. A week before, we already knew who the referee was. Then they appoint a referee who, at 41 years old, has no international experience… well, it can’t be because he is a great referee.”
“So the poor guy came here and couldn’t handle the pressure. It’s a pressure I call the ‘1980s pressure,’ which you rarely see today.”
“This combination – a referee, a bad referee who has only refereed small matches, and Mr. VAR, who has a big history … well, congratulations to the referee appointment committee.”
Real Madrid later released a statement after the game, blaming the refereeing decisions for the loss.
Simeone’s reaction to Mourinho’s comments
Diego Simeone was asked about his perspective on the refereeing display and Jose Mourinho’s comments in a statement to the press after the game.
He said: ‘You can NOT lose the respect of the referees’. No matter how big a name you are, like Mourinho is… we have to be respectful.”
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