“He can’t referee”: Mourinho launches extraordinary attack over Real Madrid penalty controversy

The Champions League anthem will ring out at the Bernabéu again Tuesday after Real Madrid’s setback against Real Betis last Friday. It is the perfect stage for the Spanish giants to bounce back.

Ahead of the game, José Mourinho spoke to the media at Valdebebas, discussing his players’ condition, the emotional aspect of facing Inter and the controversy surrounding the decision not to retake a penalty from the Betis game. However, he refused to say whether Trent Alexander-Arnold could play in midfield.

Mourinho wants one thing against Inter

What kind of game do you want to see tomorrow?

“I want to win. I could say I want to play well, but I don’t want to play well like we did against Betis and lose. I want to win.

“We’re in a phase of eight games with the objective of qualifying, and I think we’ll do it. But I want to approach this game as a single, isolated match, without thinking about the fact that there will be seven more. I want to win.”

How have you seen the team after its first defeat?

“I’ve seen them the way I like to see them. Dead in the locker room after the game, much more recovered at Sunday’s training session and perfectly normal today.

“After analyzing the game we played, we’re increasingly convinced that we played well. We played against a team and what we failed to do was an abnormality. We’re in good shape. We have problems in midfield for tomorrow’s game, but we’re going to play and compete.”

What memory from your previous Champions League spell with Real Madrid comes back to you most?

“Obviously, I won a Champions League at the Bernabéu, but I also lost a semifinal on penalties. I’ve experienced the best and the worst at that stadium.

“But I don’t think about that. Neither positively nor negatively. I’m only thinking that I’m the Real Madrid coach and that tomorrow isn’t an ultra-important game because it doesn’t decide anything. It’s not a knockout tie or a group stage like we had before. But it’s a game that’s being played tomorrow, and every point is important. Inter are also coming here looking for what they need.”

Have you found a very good squad that is perhaps a little naive?

“It’s also a cultural issue. Maybe I was interpreted negatively when I used the word ‘naive,’ but I didn’t say it as a criticism. It was an observation. And tomorrow you’ll understand very well what I meant. You’ll understand it very easily.”

Can Trent Alexander-Arnold play in midfield?

“I’m not going to comment on that. I could spend many minutes here talking about it, but I’d rather be honest with you.

“I know we’re missing three players … the algorithm has chosen this game for us to play in this situation, and although your question is obvious, that’s where we are. We have three, four, five options. We could sit here and talk about all of them, but in the end, I’m not going to tell you anything.”

Mourinho insists the emotion will come later

Does this game have an emotional component for you?

“After the game, yes. But during the game, no. During the game, it’s just another game.”

Do you feel you owe Real Madrid a Champions League title?

“No. I was at Real Madrid during two different periods. I finished my work there in 2013. We won what we won and lost what we lost. We gave everything. And it ended.

“But this has nothing to do with the past. These are two different moments in Real Madrid’s history. That’s how it is. In 2010, the team hadn’t reached the quarterfinals and hadn’t played a semifinal in many years. Now six Champions Leagues have been won. These are different moments.

“If you ask me whether I’m excited about winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, obviously I am. But it’s completely separate from the context of my previous spell.”

Are you particularly excited to face Inter?

“At this moment, it’s not a normal game for me, as I said before. Afterward, it will be. But during the game, no.

“I don’t think anyone will be talking during the game about who is sitting on the Real Madrid bench. During the game, I won’t think about things from the past.

“Chivu will always be one of my guys. I’m very happy for him and for what he’s achieving. I’ll greet him before and after the game. During it … it’s time for the game.”

What differences have you noticed at Real Madrid compared with your previous spell?

“I’ve found a club … that is Real Madrid. And that says it all. Real Madrid is Real Madrid.

“They had a very difficult season in the past, and when that happens, you have to work to improve. We always want to win here, tomorrow and in every competition. But you have to work toward stability and solving problems. Real Madrid has to move toward a stable level.”

Jose Mourinho was handed a water gun by an Italian journalist right after his pre-match press conference, ahead of Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan in the Champions League. 😁😁pic.twitter.com/RI96GMcQFA

— The Final Whistle (@Rufus_45) September 7, 2026

Mourinho questions Betis penalty decision

You said we’ll understand what you meant by ‘naive’ tomorrow. Can you give us a hint? Does it have to do with your players, the opponent or the difference in refereeing standards between Spain and Europe?

“No … I don’t want to talk about refereeing standards. The only thing, and maybe this isn’t the answer to your question, is that … sorry, because I’m going to avoid your question. And I’ll answer you another way.

“But since this question came up, I’ll use yours to go in that direction.” He smiled. “We lost to Betis. We lost because we didn’t turn the attacking production the team generated into goals. OK? Period.

“But the penalty … why wasn’t it retaken? Was it not retaken because VAR didn’t know the rules? Or was it not retaken because VAR didn’t want it to be? That’s something that, as Real Madrid coach, I would like the people responsible to answer for me. Why?

“If VAR didn’t order the penalty to be retaken because they didn’t know the rules, then they have to go home and not do VAR anymore. If VAR didn’t order it to be retaken because they didn’t want to, that’s even worse.

“And there’s a third question: Why, at the very least, didn’t they call the referee if they didn’t know the rules? Why didn’t they call him over to look at the monitor? It’s a little … a little strange. Something … a little strange.

“I want to go in the direction of honesty and think that he didn’t know the rules. I prefer to go in the direction of honesty. But if that’s the case, he can’t referee, he can’t work with VAR.

“Because what’s going to happen next week, or in a month or two months, is that in an identical situation, the penalty will be retaken.

“And I want to make it very clear that we didn’t lose because of this, because we could have missed the retaken penalty too. But as a Real Madrid coach and as someone involved in professional soccer, in an important competition, I would like to know this: Why wasn’t the penalty retaken? And I would like the people responsible for this to answer me.

“The other thing in this game that, again, has nothing to do with the result is why the Real Madrid captain was shown a yellow card.

“When the captain, Vinicius, did this,” Mourinho said, gesturing toward his armband, “and approached the referee, he was shown a yellow card before he even got there. I’d also like to know why.

“Why are we always told that the captain has the right to approach the referee politely and without being aggressive to ask for some kind of explanation?

“Sorry, I used your question to go back to the last game.” He smiled. “Sorry.”

Endrick could play just 5-10 minutes

Is Endrick ready?

“Tomorrow he could be ready to play five minutes. Or 10, maximum. And that’s it.

“He trained with the team for the first time yesterday. He hasn’t played since … Budapest or Austria, a friendly. He doesn’t have the fitness for more than five to 10 minutes.

“But since we have so many spots available on the bench, there he is. And perhaps he should play five minutes.

“He’s an attacking player, and he’ll play in attack. Don’t worry, he won’t be a fullback or a center back. He’ll be an attacker.”

What do you feel about facing Chivu?

“He was my player, we worked together. We went through so many things together, the good and the bad.

“Who did you speak to to find out that I have a bad relationship with him? Who?”

“He can’t referee”: Mourinho launches extraordinary attack over Real Madrid penalty controversy

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