Real Madrid manager José Mourinho decided not to attend the post-match press conference following his side’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal in matchday eight of La Liga, according to radio station Cadena SER.
The report did not disclose the reason behind the abrupt decision, nor did the club issue an official clarification, leaving the Portuguese manager with numerous questions unanswered following a night marked by a hard-fought win and a highly controversial officiating incident.
Ousmane Diomande settled the fixture by scoring the solitary second-half goal, putting Real Madrid back on winning ways following their derby defeat to Atlético Madrid prior to the international break.
Vinícius Júnior entered as a substitute after being left out of the starting lineup by Mourinho. The Brazilian scored what appeared to be Real Madrid’s second goal, prompting the Portuguese coach to sprint onto the pitch to celebrate wildly with his players.
However, Mourinho’s jubilation quickly turned to disappointment after the video assistant referee summoned the referee to review the attack. Replays caught Vinícius pulling Villarreal defender William Saliba by the hair, leading to the goal being disallowed and a straight red card brandished at the Brazilian star.
Mourinho may have opted to skip the press conference to avoid entering a fresh dispute with match officials or making statements that could trigger a personal suspension. The Portuguese manager is renowned for his sharp criticism of refereeing decisions, having frequently accrued fines and touchline bans throughout his career for harsh words directed at officials.
Mourinho has already publicly voiced his frustration with officiating on multiple occasions this season, most notably presenting a paper displaying a screenshot of a controversial moment following the Madrid derby. His media appearance following the Vinícius incident was widely expected to spark another controversy less than two weeks before El Clásico.
