Jose Mourinho talks refereeing decisions, Tchouameni and substitutions after Racing Santander 0-3 Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho talks refereeing decisions, Tchouameni and substitutions after Racing Santander 0-3 Real Madrid Real Madrid were able to put the pressure on Barcelona at the top of the table thanks to a 3-0 win over Racing Santander. Although the scoreline might appear quite straightforward, it was a controversial game , particularly with regards to the referee and VAR calls, which Racing fans felt favoured Real Madrid. Speaking to the media after the game, Jose Mourinho blasted at the critics while talking about various other aspects of the game. Mourinho on the refereeing controversy Mourinho spoke at length about the Aurelien Tchouameni incident late in the game as well as the refereeing calls in general. “My opinion is that they protest everything. It’s a stadium I really like, and I really like the fans. They have this character, this way of playing the game ,” he said (h/t Diario AS ). “They don’t just come to the movies. They don’t just come to watch a show. They come to play, to participate, to create a very difficult atmosphere for the opposition ,” he added. Mourinho took a shot at the critics for the Tchouameni incident. “But then there’s also the fact that they obviously play with heart, and there are a lot of people who don’t know the rules. And to tell the truth, they change them so often, the little details…” Mourinho did not hold back against people criticizing VAR’s decision to overturn a late penalty for Racing. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) “People don’t know that it’s never a penalty for Tchouameni because of the rebound, because the ball comes off his… body. It’s never a penalty.” “When the referee blew a penalty, I was relieved because from 60 meters out he couldn’t have done it. But then I saw it on my iPad and I said, ‘If VAR isn’t asleep, it’s not a penalty.’” “The referee was technically very good, disciplinarily… A couple of yellow cards and that’s it, in a tough, competitive match. For me, it’s obvious it wasn’t a penalty ,” he said. Mourinho pleased with the performance Mourinho was wary of the challenge posed by a spirited Racing side, insisting he never considered the game won. “No… El Sardinero is a very strong team, very combative. Even when losing 0-3, there was danger. It’s a game that could have been won 0-4 or 0-5 with the things that happened in the second half, but it could have gotten complicated too, because in the first ten minutes they had a couple of chances with Zabiri, crosses to the near post.” Mourinho admitted that he never took the win for granted, even when Real Madrid were leading with a three-goal advantage. “If they score one, they’ll come alive. I never considered the game over. But we did come out strong, playing well, with purpose; against the high pressure that Racing applied to us, as they do to everyone who comes here. In the end, it’s an important victory in what will be an extremely difficult week ahead.” He was particularly encouraged by the defensive work of his attackers, as he particularly singled out Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande. “But it’s something that exists among everyone right now. Of course, there are players with better physical and tactical attributes for defensive work, but I’ve also seen very committed people.” “The team is growing, playing well. In my opinion, we should score more goals with the chances we create. But we’re improving. When we’re in a low block, the team knows how to compact itself.” “I’m happy with the progress. And you’re right that when more attacking players put in the work, it sends a positive message to the team.” Asked if he had found his formula, Mourinho pointed to a growing understanding within the group. “We’re not at 100% yet, but we are improving. Less than four months is a short time, but we’re progressing gradually. I’ve been understanding things I didn’t understand on the first day; the players understand my character as a coach better, because my character as a person is secondary.” “They understand the things that are non-negotiable for me. There’s a good human connection, let’s say. A good player-coach connection. We’re doing well. But… we’ll see this week, because we have two tough matches coming up. And each one is important.” It does appear that the team is gelling better with Mourinho, especially after the international break, with Real Madrid securing key wins against AS Roma and Barcelona. Explaining the substitution An interesting thing about the game was that Mourinho only opted for three substitutions. He later explained his decision after the game. “I’ve seen it all in football. The game is over when the referee blows the final whistle. Besides, there are some players who played today and won’t play on Wednesday. And in that sense, taking off players who aren’t going to play on Wednesday, wouldn’t make much sense.” Mourinho only used three substitutions against Racing Santander. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) “Let me give you an example: Tchouameni isn’t playing on Wednesday. So he plays 90 minutes today. It’s a different way of managing the game. In your case, it’s ‘game under control, make changes.’ And I’ve thought about it the other way around: keeping players on the pitch who will be on the bench on Wednesday.” He went on to take shots at La Liga’s scheduling, which has become a hot topic of discussion in recent weeks. “The gift LaLiga has given us, playing today and Saturday, forces us to do this on Wednesday… Against Spanish football, which should want its teams in Europe to win, win, win. Points, points, points. But let’s see if by making three or four changes, we can get the points in Athens.” Finally, Mourinho reflected on how confidence has transformed the mood, explaining his decision to introduce Trent Alexander-Arnold. “As I was saying, the team is improving, the players are also at a high level of confidence. Football is played by men and women. They are men and women who play football, not ‘players and female players’; the emotional aspect also counts for a lot.” “When things go well, it seems to go well for everyone. You make a change and bring on Trent, who hadn’t played for a few games, and I do it knowing that against an opponent that presses a lot, his technical quality for playing out from the back would be better than putting Dumfries in.” “And he plays an excellent, very balanced game. When the moment is good, things seem better than they actually are. But the truth is, I’m happy ,” he concluded.