Real Madrid accept there are issues with the team while maintaining stance on refereeing

Real Madrid accept there are issues with the team while maintaining stance on refereeing Several days have now passed since the derby at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, but the anger at Real Madrid has not subsided. Coming out of the 2-1 derby defeat, Real Madrid want to make it clear that they believe Ortiz Arias’s refereeing should be the main focus when analysing the match. As reported earlier today , the Spanish capital club are shocked by the refereeing in Spain as they strongly believe there are double standards when it comes to how match officials treat them. Self-criticism and reflection However, that does not mean everything else has been ignored. Under pressure after the derby defeat. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Indeed, according to AS , within the club, there is an acknowledgement that the team has problems in its play, while there are also differing opinions about certain aspects of the squad’s construction. Nevertheless, Real Madrid believe the refereeing performance had a greater bearing on this particular match than any other factor. Beyond Ortiz Arias and VAR, the Merengues openly recognise that the team did not play well and that its performances have generally lacked consistency and fluency. There is also debate surrounding the squad. Some within the club believe another midfielder should have been signed, whether Rodri or another player with a similar profile. Real Madrid missed out on Rodri in the summer. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) There is also a feeling that some players could have left to create space and potentially change the team’s dynamic. The general view at Real Madrid is that this squad should be performing at a higher level than it currently is, although there is an awareness that the situation is not yet definitive. Three weeks to work on the team’s problems Real Madrid now face a three-week international break, during which Jose Mourinho will have to continue working with the players available to him, on the team’s weaknesses and tactical issues. The Merengues expect Mourinho to defend their position when questioned about refereeing matters, having effectively made him the club’s sole spokesperson on the subject. Publicly, the message is one of indignation. Behind closed doors, however, the focus is on reflection and improvement, a view shared by some of the players, including superstar forward Kylian Mbappe.