Real Madrid back Mourinho’s decision to skip press conference after win vs Villarreal

Real Madrid back Mourinho’s decision to skip press conference after win vs Villarreal Real Madrid endured yet another night in La Liga where refereeing controversies overshadowed the football that played out on the pitch. The only difference between the game against Atletico Madrid and the one against Villarreal was that the result eventually ended in Madrid’s favour. According to MARCA (h/t Madrid Xtra ), Madrid are said to support manager Jose Mourinho’s decision to avoid the media following the 1-0 victory over Villarreal. The Portuguese manager was said to be concerned that his anger over the refereeing on display last night could lead to a suspension. Mourinho feared losing his place on the touchline The manager was said to have made his intentions very c lear after the game . “I’m not going to speak because I want to be on the bench against Sevilla and Barcelona,” Mourinho explained to those around him. His frustration was evident throughout the encounter, which Madrid won through Yan Diomande’s second-half goal. Jose Mourinho made a smart decision to not appear in front of the media after the Villarreal game. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images) Vinicius’ dismissal for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair proved particularly controversial, with the Brazilian also having a goal disallowed following a VAR review in the same move. Mourinho had already expressed dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions during the derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, using printouts to make a point. The decisions in the Villarreal game only added fuel to the fire, leaving the manager with the choice of not attending the press conference. Madrid’s decision reflects the importance of upcoming fixtures Mourinho’s next scheduled media appearance is Tuesday, ahead of Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Roma. There is absolutely no doubt that he will be asked questions about the Villarreal game on this occasion, but Mourinho might choose to sidestep those questions. The immediate priority is ensuring he remains available for important domestic fixtures against Sevilla and Barcelona. Jose Mourinho will be keen to improve his team’s fortunes in the coming weeks. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) With Madrid struggling to deliver convincing performances so far this season, the last thing they need is for their manager to be unavailable on the touchline. Mourinho must turn frustration into tactical solutions The Mourinho of old might have come to the press conference and taken on the referees head-on, but this version of him seems to be much more mature. His first spell at Madrid demonstrated how quickly public disputes with officials can dominate the conversation surrounding the team. However, avoiding the press conference cannot allow Mourinho to overlook the tactical issues that his team are facing. Madrid’s narrow victory exposed familiar weaknesses in possession, particularly their difficulty progressing the ball through midfield and creating chances. Those issues need Mourinho’s attention more than refereeing decisions, which have already come and gone. If Vinicius misses the Clasico , the manager must decide how to accommodate Diomande and whether Arda Guler can play a more central creative role. It remains to be seen how Mourinho goes about improving the team ahead of an important El Clasico later this month.