Mourinho wants to stop refereeing anger from hurting Real Madrid

Real Madrid beat Villarreal, but the victory came amid considerable tension over the refereeing. Vinicius was sent off, Mourinho and the bench protested, and the Madrid side received six yellow cards and one red. Mourinho wants to ensure that the anger and heated reactions do not ultimately hurt his team.

The coach’s frustration grew after the video assistant intervened. He had celebrated with Vinicius what would have been a goal to make it 2-0, before the action was ruled out and the Brazilian was sent off. Mourinho finished the match in a particularly furious mood. He then chose not to speak to the media; the decision was reportedly intended to avoid remarks that could expose him to a sanction and jeopardise his presence at the Clásico.

After the match, Foyth urged restraint: «If you’re asking for something on every play… The referee is human and can make a mistake.»

Mourinho knows that his players’ anger, however understandable, can also affect their conduct and performance. Vinicius’s dismissal already illustrates the possible consequences of a night like this. Mourinho wants the players to channel their frustration without losing concentration, and to keep protests and cards from overshadowing the football. The team, in turn, must respond on the pitch.