Mourinho leads Real Madrid protest with printed images after Atletico derby defeat

Jose Mourinho turned the press room into an evidence room. The Real Madrid coach faced the media with several printed images to denounce the officiating in his team's 2-1 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, a result that deepens the crisis after the earlier loss to Real Betis and leaves the club six points behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.

• Mourinho showed screenshots of two incidents he believes should have brought red cards for Atletico players in the first half.
• Real Madrid lost 2-1 in the derby and suffered a second setback after the 1-0 defeat against Real Betis.
• The result leaves Real Madrid six points behind league leaders Barcelona.
• Simeone avoided a direct dispute with Mourinho and called for respect toward referees and coaches.

The Madrid derby defeat that puts Real Madrid under more pressure

The trip to Atletico Madrid ended in another heavy blow for Mourinho's project. The 2-1 derby defeat came just weeks after a 1-0 loss to Real Betis, and both results leave Real Madrid six points off Barcelona. The pressure on the Portuguese coach keeps rising during a start to the season in which every setback has become difficult to digest.

Mourinho answers Atletico derby officiating with proof on the table

Mourinho did not settle for a vague complaint. He arrived at the press conference holding papers covered in screenshots. He placed the images of the moments he considered decisive on the table and said the press conference could be skipped because the story of the match was right there. For the coach, Atletico should have faced the second half with two players fewer.

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.

Mourinho did not only attack the refereeing decisions. He also made clear that his players gave everything and that the dressing room is not broken. In his view, Real Madrid produced a first half full of class and character, one that left the match set up perfectly to win after the break. The second half, however, became a battle to deal with Atletico's possession.

Pride in the dressing room and belief in a simple refereeing mistake

The Portuguese coach softened his protest by saying he wants to believe the decisions were simple mistakes, just as a coach or a player can also make mistakes. That concession did not stop him from insisting that his team had been seriously harmed during the derby.

Despite the anger, Mourinho said he was proud of his players. He highlighted the unity of the group, the determination they showed on the pitch and the pride with which they competed even when the match turned against them. For him, not feeling disappointed in his players is the best way to sum up a painful night.

Simeone answers Mourinho's anger with a call for respect

Diego Simeone refused to be drawn into the argument. The Atletico Madrid coach, fresh from winning the derby, avoided discussing Mourinho directly and instead sent a broader message about the responsibility of managers. For the Argentine, coaches live under constant public scrutiny and must measure every word they say.

Simeone mentioned several of his fellow coaches and underlined the importance of respecting referees, rivals and everyone around football. In his view, when someone crosses that line of respect, everybody loses, and that line should never be crossed.

What Real Madrid have at stake after the derby defeat

The defeat to Atletico Madrid has immediate consequences in the table. Real Madrid now sit six points behind Barcelona and have little room for error in a relentless fixture list. After two losses in the opening weeks, every match is starting to feel like a final for Mourinho and his squad.

The recovery will depend on restoring defensive solidity and on maintaining the level shown in the first half of the derby for the full ninety minutes. Good spells against Atletico are not enough if the scoreline keeps punishing a side that needs to close the gap on the leaders.

Frequently asked questions about Real Madrid's derby loss and Mourinho's complaints