Printed snapshots laid out on the table
He turned up at the press conference carrying photos. Printed copies. Two incidents, two images, and one line to set the tone.
“We can save ourselves some time because the story of the match is right here”, Jose Mourinho said, holding up the pictures. “These are two clear red cards. We can end this press conference now.”
The two incidents in question: a challenge by Kang-in Lee on Federico Valverde, and another by Cristian Romero on Jude Bellingham. Real Madrid had just gone down 2-1 on Atletico’s pitch in a derby that swung after Dean Huijsen was sent off while the score was still level.
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The referee gets named and shamed
The Portuguese did not stop at the photos. He went straight after the man in the middle.
“This referee doesn’t have the experience to handle a derby. He has no international matches. Why? He’s not good (…) Everything was very strange. The referee’s name was known a week in advance. That information usually comes out only 24 hours before the match.” And to finish: “The poor guy came here and couldn’t handle the pressure.”
Then he broadened the attack. The disallowed goal against Osasuna. The penalty overturned in San Sebastian. Barcelona’s penalty. “You have to laugh”, he snapped. The referees’ technical committee took a beating too, accused of pairing an inexperienced young official with a VAR man who, according to Mourinho, has “plenty of history against us”.
Six points behind Barca
Behind the theatre, there is still a table. Real Madrid are third. They are now six points behind FC Barcelona. Atletico, meanwhile, have moved up to second thanks to this derby win.
Mourinho still made sure to back his dressing room. “I want to hug my players, because they gave everything. Imagine now if it had been nine players against eleven.”
And then there is the title race. He was asked about that too. His answer came in one line, naturally loaded with meaning: “if they leave us alone, calm, then there is time”. Calm from the start of the season, the Special One chose Sunday to light the fuse again.
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