Mourinho prints out two red card calls after Real Madrid lose derby to Atletico
Real Madrid fell 2-1 at the Metropolitano and José Mourinho walked into his press conference holding a printed sheet with two first-half images. The Portuguese coach believes Atletico Madrid should have been reduced to nine men. Diego Simeone avoided direct confrontation and insisted his team controlled the derby.
ByJavi
5 min read
José Mourinho turned the Metropolitano press room into an evidence room. After Real Madrid's 2-1 defeat to Atletico, the Portuguese manager appeared before reporters carrying a printed A4 sheet showing two first-half incidents that, in his view, should have resulted in red cards for the hosts. The scene closed an intense derby that leaves Real Madrid with their second league loss of the season.
- Mourinho printed two screenshots of first-half moments and showed them to the media.
- He believes Atletico should have played with nine men from the first half onwards.
- He pointed to a Cristian Romero challenge on Jude Bellingham and a Lee Kang-in tackle on Fede Valverde.
- Simeone avoided a direct clash, called for respect and praised his team's control.
- Real Madrid sit fourth, with Atletico second and five points off the leaders.
The two printed moments Mourinho took to the Metropolitano
The Real Madrid coach did not wait for an officiating question. He placed the sheet on the table and summed up his version in one sentence: for him, the story of the match was right there in those images. In his view, Atletico should have been down to ten men in the first half, and then down to nine, something that would have completely changed the game.
The first incident came in the 37th minute. Jude Bellingham and Cristian Romero chased a loose ball and the clash ended with an initial yellow card for the English midfielder. Mourinho demanded a sending-off for the Argentine for dangerous play, with replays showing Romero's studs making contact with Bellingham's knee. The VAR intervened, withdrew the card for the Real Madrid player and only booked the Atletico defender.
The second involved a Lee Kang-in challenge on Fede Valverde. For Mourinho, it was a straight red card and he could not understand why it escaped a more severe sanction. The Portuguese also questioned the appointment of the match officials, though he preferred to put the decisions down to human error rather than any deliberate intent.
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's praise for Real Madrid despite the derby defeat
Far from criticising his players, Mourinho praised their attitude, especially in the first half. He highlighted the team's unity, character and determination in a difficult stadium. He admitted it was hard to win the ball and stop Atletico's possession after the break, but insisted he was not disappointed with the performance of his squad.
He also addressed the dismissal of Dean Huijsen, which led to an Atletico penalty. The coach said he had not yet watched the VAR replay at the time he spoke to the media. Even so, he avoided making that action the centre of the debate.
Simeone responds without engaging in the refereeing row
Diego Simeone appeared in a very different mood. The Argentine was delighted with the result and, asked about Mourinho's complaints, chose a message built around respect. He acknowledged that coaches live under constant public scrutiny and need to be careful with their words.
We all need to be careful about what we say. We have to know how to respect others, the referees, our colleagues. When someone crosses that line of respect, it is not right.
The Atletico manager defended the idea that his team controlled the derby throughout. He spoke about an intense match against a rival with dangerous transitions and extraordinary players, and praised the defensive organisation and collective effort that neutralised their main threats. In his analysis, the damage had to be sought down the right flank, and that is where the space appeared.
What the derby means for the LaLiga table
The result leaves Real Madrid in fourth place, while Atletico climb to second, five points behind the leaders. It is the second league setback of the season for the Spanish giants, following the 1-0 loss against Real Betis in September.
Mourinho played down the significance of the moment and reminded everyone that a season is not decided at the start. For the Portuguese, it is the finish that matters. LaLiga will resume on Friday 9 October after the international break.
Atletico stick to their story: a derby under control
Against the narrative of a match shaped by refereeing, Simeone offered a purely sporting reading. He insisted his players understood the game, kept their structure and found a way to limit Real Madrid's transitions. For the Argentine coach, the win should not be overshadowed by the red card debate.
Frequently asked questions
What did Mourinho do at the press conference after the derby?
He arrived holding a printed sheet with two screenshots from the first half. He showed the images to reporters and argued that both moments should have led to red cards for Atletico Madrid.
Which two controversial moments did Mourinho highlight?
He pointed to a Cristian Romero challenge on Jude Bellingham in the 37th minute and a Lee Kang-in tackle on Fede Valverde. In both cases he felt the referee should have shown a red card.
How did Simeone react to Mourinho's complaints?
He avoided a direct confrontation and spoke about the importance of respect in public comments. He also said his players controlled the match throughout and that the victory should not be reduced to the controversy.