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Sunday, 20th September 2026
MOURINHO: “I THOUGHT I’D FIND A DIFFERENT LA LIGA — I WAS WRONG”
José Mourinho has delivered another pointed comment following Real Madrid’s dramatic 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Madrid derby.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho reflected on his return to Spanish football and said he had expected La Liga to have changed during his absence.>
“When I came back, I thought I’d have found a different La Liga. I was wrong… I didn’t.”
The remark came after a derby dominated by controversy surrounding several refereeing decisions.
Real Madrid publicly criticised referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias over incidents involving Cuti Romero and Kang-in Lee, while Mourinho also questioned why the challenges were not punished with red cards.
The Portuguese coach’s comments therefore came in the wider context of Real Madrid’s frustration with the officiating during the derby.
Mourinho returned to Real Madrid for the 2026/27 season and has quickly found himself at the centre of another intense Spanish football controversy following the defeat at the Metropolitano.
For now, his latest words are certain to generate further discussion around refereeing, VAR and the state of officiating in Spanish football.
By OLAWALE HAMZAT TOP STRIKER
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