Real Madrid manager José Mourinho addressed the media at the Stadio Olimpico ahead of his side’s European fixture, deflecting questions regarding domestic Spanish league refereeing controversies and shifting the focus toward Italian journalists and the upcoming match,elmundo.es reported.
Mourinho Sidesteps Domestic Referee Questions in Rome
Facing reporters in the Italian capital, Mourinho was asked repeatedly about his recent absence from the post-match press conference following a La Liga fixture against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Portuguese coach pushed back on the line of questioning, stating that the media inquiries were persistently pushing a single narrative.
“Nothing, nothing, we are in a Champions League match. I have nothing to comment on what happened in the league,” Mourinho said when initially questioned about his Bernabéu walkout. Pressed further by reporters, he offered a brief directive for analyzing the Villarreal fixture: “I invite you to watch only the first minute of the match against Villarreal. Enough to watch one minute… And if you want, on Saturday we will comment on it. The first minute is enough for those who know about this.”
Reviewing the opening moments of that match reveals a tight offside call whistled against Kylian Mbappé, alongside a pre-match conversation where referee Isidro Díaz de Mera told team captains they had “the luxury” of addressing him. Mourinho did not explicitly specify what aspect of the opening minute he was referencing.
Frustration Over Early Referee Designations
When subsequent questioning turned directly to officiating standards, Mourinho was asked if he trusted European referees more than Spanish officials. “No, I trust everyone,” Mourinho replied. “The only thing that makes me do this in the nose [distrust] is when the name of a match referee is known three weeks before, when the norm is 24 hours. I don’t like that.”
Another journalist asked whether Real Madrid players felt inhibited on the pitch amid ongoing friction between the club and Spanish referees. “When you ask me that question, I think you know the answer, but for some reason you don’t want to say it,” Mourinho responded. Looking toward the club’s press chief seated to his left, he added, “I see journalists in Spain as not very direct, with few direct, concrete opinions on situations that have no doubt. All the questions are going in the same direction, and here is the Italian press, which is more interested in the match. Better we change.”
Return to the Stadio Olimpico and Tactical Choices
Shifting topics to his return to Rome—where he previously led AS Roma to victory in the 2022 UEFA Conference League—Mourinho acknowledged that the reunion “is not normal,” though he emphasized that once play begins, “the 90 minutes will be just another match.” He also addressed tactical deployment, including the use of Fede Valverde at right-back. “It’s only a very specific situation,” Mourinho said of Valverde’s positioning. “In the match against Villarreal, the Real Madrid coach did very well. Sometimes it goes wrong and other times it goes well for me.”
Mourinho concluded his appearance with a reflection on his career-long rapport with supporters across the clubs he has managed. “I win people over by being myself,” he said. “Taking care of the club’s interests above my own. That’s why people identify with me.”
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