Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho criticized officiating following his team’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s La Liga derby. During the post-match press conference, Mourinho presented printed images of two first-half tackles, arguing that Atletico Madrid players Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in should have been sent off for their challenges on Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, respectively.
Real Madrid confirmed that Valverde sustained severe trauma to his left ankle during the match and will undergo further medical evaluation. The visitors were eventually reduced to 10 men when defender Dean Huijsen was dismissed for a foul on Giuliano Simeone, which resulted in a penalty kick converted by Alejandro Grimaldo. Jonathan David added a second goal for Atletico before Antonio Ruediger scored a late header for Real Madrid.
Mourinho directed his criticism toward referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, questioning the official’s experience and his ability to manage the intensity of the match. The manager suggested that the officiating prevented a fair competition, though he stopped short of claiming the match was intentionally manipulated.
In response to Mourinho’s comments, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone emphasized the importance of maintaining respect in public discourse. Simeone focused his remarks on his team’s defensive performance and their ability to control the match throughout both halves.
Following the result, Atletico Madrid moved into second place in the La Liga standings with 16 points. They currently sit five points behind league leaders Barcelona and one point ahead of both Real Madrid and Real Betis.
Article source: www.aljazeera.com | Image credit: www.aljazeera.com