Sunday's Madrid derby was packed with intensity and controversial moments. After the match, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho did not hesitate to go after those he blamed for his team's defeat.
After seeing a friendlier Jose Mourinho since his return to the Real Madrid bench, we saw his 2013 attitude again this Sunday in the post-match press conference. Previously, he had already shown signs of his "combative" attitude, but he always decided to stop; however, at the Metropolitano, the Portuguese did not hesitate to point to the referees as responsible for his team's defeat against Atletico Madrid.
He began by saying: "The refereeing appointments committee must be happy, because it has all been very strange. They put in a referee who, at 41 years old, has no international status... well, it will not be because he is a great referee. Some things have been seen in recent weeks...
Here, in this stadium, the goal disallowed for Osasuna is laughable; the penalty in San Sebastian is laughable; the Barcelona penalty is laughable; the non-sending-off against Athletic Bilbao with this very nice gentleman - he pointed backward, in reference to Ortiz Arias - with a kid who is a great player... They are all accumulated things."
And, clearly, he showed a sheet with two images - very much in Mourinho's style - where he showed Kang-in Lee's fouls on Federico Valverde and 'Cuti' Romero's on Jude Bellingham, followed by the following comment: "They are two clear red cards. The difficulties we have had afterward, eleven against ten, we can imagine what it would be like at 50' with eleven against nine. And therefore I have to limit myself to hugging my players, who have given everything. Who have had a first half of great class and personality."
However, the truth is that several players were not up to the match. Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries did not look solid; they allowed many Atletico advances down their flanks and, in general terms, they looked somewhat "asleep." It was known that this match would be a true test for Madrid, which it could not pass, since the three points slipped from their hands.
Now, six points behind Barcelona, we will have to wait to see who the international break affects more. Because the blaugranas are in unstoppable mode, with Raphinha in great form, with 12 goals in seven matches. The merengues must completely rethink their way of playing to get the machinery back on track. It is necessary for Vinicius Jr. to wake up, since currently he does not provoke fear in anyone, and the team urgently needs him.
