José Mourinho has refused to explain why he skipped his post-match news conference after Real Madrid‘s 1-0 win over Villarreal, telling journalists to “watch the first minute of the game” to understand his decision.
Despite taking all three points in Saturday’s LaLiga game, Madrid left the Bernabéu angry after Vinícius Júnior had a goal disallowed for a hair-pull — for which he was then sent off — in a dramatic passage of play in the second half.
Coach Mourinho then refused to speak to the media after the game, meaning Tuesday’s news conference ahead of Madrid’s Champions League clash with Roma was their first chance to question Mourinho on his motives.
“Nothing, nothing,” Mourinho said, speaking at Roma’s Olympic Stadium, when asked what he had to say about the incident. “This is a Champions League game. [I have] nothing to say about the league game.”
“I told your colleague I didn’t want to comment, but I’ll try to make sure this is the last [question],” Mourinho said, when pressed on the subject. “I’d invite you just watch the first minute of the game against Villarreal. If you want, we can talk about it on Saturday [in his next news conference]. The first minute is enough, if you know.”
Mourinho has criticised a number of refereeing performances and key decisions since his return to Madrid this summer.
After last month’s Madrid derby, he brought a printout with photos of two key incidents which went against his team into his post-match news conference, saying the referee “couldn’t cope with the pressure” and adding “congratulations to [refereeing committee] the CTA.”
“I trust in all of them,” Mourinho insisted on Tuesday, when asked if he trusted Champions League referees more than Spanish officials.
“The only thing that smells funny to me is when everyone knows the name of a referee three weeks before [a game], when it should be 24 hours. That’s the only thing that makes me uncomfortable. Apart from that I have faith. I don’t have any negative feelings.”
Wedneday’s game in Rome marks a return for Mourinho to a club where he spent three seasons, winning the 2022 Conference League.
