The heat of the Madrid derby did not subside even after the match ended. Diego Simeone has answered Jose Mourinho’s criticism of the refereeing after Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho had questioned several decisions in the match. The Real coach believes that some Atletico players should have been shown red cards in the first half. Frustration in the Real dugout grew further when Real’s defender Dean Huijsen was later shown a red card.
Mourinho also arrived at the post-match press conference with a number of photographs. Showing them, he claimed that several of the referee’s decisions were wrong.
Simeone, however, called on coaches to show respect for the referee and for one another after a match. The Argentine coach then spoke of the need for coaches working at the top level to be aware of the effect of their words: “We are all in a position where what we say is broadcast widely. So we have to be careful about what we say. We have to respect others, the referees and our colleagues.”
Simeone also accepted that Atletico had the benefit of some decisions in the derby. In his view that is no reason for respect towards referees to diminish: “What I understand from our position is that even though we had the benefit of some decisions today, respect for the referees must certainly be maintained.”
Simeone then made a sharper remark directed at Mourinho: “Not everything can be said, not even if your name is Mourinho.”
Mourinho spoke mostly about the refereeing in the match. He questioned in particular the decision not to show a red card in the clash between Jude Bellingham and Atletico’s defender Cristian Romero. The Real coach also criticised the decision to show Huijsen a red card.
Atletico left the field with three points in the end. And alongside the heat on the pitch, the war of words between Mourinho and Simeone has added a new dimension to the tension of the Madrid derby.