"She was asleep": Mourinho unleashes his anger after the win over Barcelona
Fiery messages for the Portuguese
Jose Mourinho insists Real Madrid are chasing the La Liga title, not just the scalp of Barcelona, after a 2-1 Clasico win at the Spotify Camp Nou cut the gap to their Catalan rivals to three points.
The Portuguese hailed his players and called it the most complete display of his second spell at the Bernabeu, pointing to the quality of the opposition. Real soaked up Barcelona's pressure and held their nerve after the equaliser. Kylian Mbappe settled it in the 87th minute.
"Real Madrid do not play to win at the Camp Nou, they play to win the title," Mourinho said. He stressed the need to keep working and stay focused, and warned that the Barcelona win would count for little if his side slipped up in their next match.
Mourinho criticises the video technology
Praise for the main referee came with a sting. Mourinho tore into VAR for failing to act on Joao Cancelo's challenge on Yan Diomande, an incident he felt deserved a red card.
"The referee delivered a great match, but the video technology was asleep in the 60th minute, and a red card should have been given for his challenge on Diomande," he said.
A substitutes' bench gives Real Madrid additional solutions
Leaving Eduardo Camavinga on the bench at the start drew questions, and Mourinho defended it. The Frenchman remains a key man, he explained, but every selection is shaped by the demands of the game.
His second-half introduction, Mourinho noted, gave the team more bite in exploiting spaces and launching counter-attacks, the plan that carved out the winning goal.
Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, in for Thibaut Courtois, also earned praise. The coach said he handled his chance with calm and confidence, and he saluted Federico Valverde's determination to play on through an injury.
Mourinho signed off by hammering home the strength of the group and the unity in the dressing room. With a run of away games looming, he said, Real will need every one of their players ready.
