Jose Mourinho Criticizes Officials with Printed Evidence After Madrid Derby Loss

Jose Mourinho, the head coach of Real Madrid, expressed his frustration over several referee decisions following his team's 2-1 loss to rivals Atletico Madrid. This defeat puts Madrid six points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

After the match, Mourinho pulled out printed images showing moments he believed warranted red cards against Atletico players. He argued that Diego Simeone's team should have been down to nine men early in the game.

"We can skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here," Mourinho said, holding up the sheets with screenshots. "Those were two clear red cards. Considering we played almost 50 minutes 11 against 10, imagine how it would have been playing 11 against nine."

Mourinho praised his squad for their effort despite the setbacks. "I'll just hug my players who gave their all and showed great character in the first half, setting us up well for the second," he added.

He also hoped the referee mistakes were unintentional. "I want to believe they are simply mistakes, like when coaches or players make errors," Mourinho explained. "I liked my team as a unit; their pride and determination were evident even though possession was tough to win back in the second half."

Simeone Responds Cautiously to Mourinho's Claims

Diego Simeone, Atletico's manager, chose not to escalate the confrontation. He stressed the importance of respect among coaches, referees, and peers.

"We are in a position with a lot of public scrutiny, whether it's Mourinho, [Hansi] Flick, [Manuel] Pellegrini, me, or others," Simeone stated. "We must be careful with our words and respect referees and colleagues. Crossing that line is unacceptable."