Mourinho Says He Trusts Referees Ahead of Real Madrid’s Return to Rome
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he still has faith in referees in Spain and Europe, despite strongly criticising them earlier this season.
A Calmer Tone Before Roma
Jose Mourinho spoke to the media in Rome on Tuesday, one day before Real Madrid play Roma in the Champions League. This time, the coach tried to stay away from trouble. He said he always feels positive about the referees before a game, whether it is in La Liga or the Champions League. He added that he has no bad feelings towards the officials and hopes the match goes well for everyone.
Weeks of Anger Over Decisions
His calm words came after a stormy few weeks. Last Saturday, Real Madrid beat Villarreal 1-0, but Vinicius Junior had a goal ruled out and was then sent off for pulling an opponent’s hair. Mourinho was so unhappy that he refused to attend the post-match press conference, even though coaches must do so.
Earlier, after Real Madrid lost the league derby to Atletico Madrid, Mourinho showed reporters printed photos of tackles. He said Atletico players should have been punished for them.
“We Have a Lot of Frustration”
Mourinho said he may talk more about the referees when he returns to Madrid, and asked reporters to wait until Saturday. He said the Italian media were more interested in the match.
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni did not want to talk about the referees either. However, he admitted the players are very frustrated with the decisions that have gone against the team.
Happy Memories of Rome
The match against Roma is special for Mourinho, 63, who coached the Italian club from 2021 to 2024. He led Roma to the Conference League title in 2022 and to the Europa League final a year later, where they lost.
Mourinho said Roma fans are special people and spoke warmly about his time in the city. He said it was not a Champions League title, but winning a European trophy and reaching two European finals in two years made it a great period.