Jose Mourinho talks refereeing controversy, VAR and Huijsen red card after Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho talks refereeing controversy, VAR and Huijsen red card after Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid Jose Mourinho did not hide his frustration after Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, with the Portuguese coach focusing heavily on two first-half challenges he believed should have resulted in red cards. A heated derby saw Dean Huijsen sent off for a last-man tackle and Los Blancos pegged back 2-0 before they scored a late consolation goal. It was a game marred by refereeing controversies, and Mourinho made sure to let everyone know what he thought of them. Mourinho: “The story of the match is here” As quoted by Mundo Deportivo , Mourinho even arrived at his post-match press conference carrying images of the incidents involving Romero on Jude Bellingham and Kang-in on Federico Valverde. “We could have saved ourselves the press conference because the story of the match is here,” Mourinho said while displaying the images. “They are two clear red cards.” Real Madrid had a game to forget against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) Mourinho argued that Madrid’s task would have been completely different had Atletico received the punishments he believed were warranted. “We can imagine the difficulties we would have had playing 11 against 10, so imagine 50 minutes playing 11 against nine,” he said. “I can only hug my players, who gave everything. We played a first half of great class and personality, and we could perfectly have won in the second half.” Mourinho questions referee and VAR Mourinho then spoke about the circumstances under which the referee for the game was announced. “The one who should be happy, apart from the Atletico people, is the Refereeing Appointments Committee,” Mourinho said. “Everything has been very strange.” He questioned why the referee’s identity had become known a week before the derby and then criticised his experience. “The referee is 41 years old, he isn’t international, and it won’t be because he’s a great referee, ” Mourinho said. “The poor guy came here and couldn’t handle the pressure.” Mourinho was equally critical of the VAR official, Trujillo, for not intervening. “He didn’t call him for the first red or the second, which is even more serious than the first,” Mourinho said. “Trujillo has a very complete history as VAR in Real Madrid matches.” Mourinho added that while the referee faced the pressure of the Metropolitano, the VAR did not have that excuse. Mourinho addresses Huijsen dismissal Mourinho hinted at previous refereeing situations since the start of the season. “I’ve been here three months and I don’t want to go in this direction, but two reds against Elche, then we won, two reds today. It becomes a little more difficult,” he said. Jose Mourinho did not disguise his feelings about the refereeing performance at the Metropolitano. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images) On Dean Huijsen’s second-half dismissal, however, Mourinho was more measured. “I confess I still haven’t seen it,” he said. “They tell me the foul starts outside the box and, if that’s the case, it’s a foul and a sending-off. If it’s inside and there is an attempt to pull the shirt and not play the ball, yes, it’s a sending-off.” However, Mourinho concluded by doubling down on his words. “All of that is in the second half,” he said. “In the first half, it’s a derby of 11 against nine.” Real Madrid have a lot to improve Real Madrid and Mourinho cannot allow the refereeing controversies to overshadow the flaws in their performance. Los Blancos have had a mixed start to the new season and will be hoping to use the international break to make some improvements. Mourinho will know that he has a difficult fixture run ahead of him once club football resumes after three weeks. It is important for Madrid to put this loss behind them and look at where they can improve during this off period.