Mourinho suffers first defeat since returning to Real Madrid

Real Madrid dominated most of the match against Real Betis but ultimately had to leave La Cartuja with a 0-1 defeat. This was manager Jose Mourinho's first loss since returning to lead the Royal club, a result that has raised many questions about the team's playing style and mentality. The match took place as Real Madrid sought to rediscover their identity under Mourinho. The Royal club had impressed in the early stages of the season with high pressing and impressive ball control. However, against a supposedly weaker opponent like Real Betis, Real Madrid exposed vulnerabilities that cannot be overlooked. The only goal of the match came from a set piece, as Real Madrid's defense reacted slowly in the penalty area. Despite dominating possession with 68% ball control time and firing 14 shots, Mourinho's team failed to convert any opportunity into a goal. Speaking after the match, Mourinho acknowledged that the result did not reflect what happened on the pitch. He affirmed that Real Madrid had controlled the match, organized numerous attacks, and created enough chances to win. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager shared: "Sometimes you lose without knowing why, and that is inexplicable. We completely controlled the match and created many attacks and chances. If the match ended in a draw, we would have felt disappointed, so imagine how we feel having to accept a defeat." When asked about referee Hernández Hernández, Mourinho said he did not understand why he received a yellow card during the match. However, the Portuguese manager did not use the officiating factor to explain the defeat. He also refused to comment on Mbappé's penalty and Carlos Espí's disallowed goal, saying he had not observed these two situations clearly enough to make an accurate judgment. "Maybe tomorrow I will change my mind, but today I will not. The truth is I don't know why we lost, because the team played very well," Mourinho added. The most notable point in Mourinho's statement was his observation about the difference in how players from both teams reacted in dispute situations. He believed Real Betis was more cunning, while Real Madrid players showed simplicity and inexperience in specific situations. "Betis players in this aspect are more cunning than Real Madrid players. Real Madrid players are pure and naive. Even in the first situation of the match, there was a clear yellow card for the player who hit Valverde. A minute later, there was another yellow card for a player who committed a serious foul on Vinícius. But Real Madrid players got up immediately, while Betis players were more cunning," Mourinho analyzed. Mourinho also did not hesitate to describe in detail a specific situation he considered typical of Betis' playing style. He recounted that a Betis player had fallen down and looked like he was dead right in front of Real Madrid's technical area. "I thought an ambulance would come to take him away, but in the end, no ambulance was needed. When you play against teams with such culture and mentality, that is a factor that can work against you," the 62-year-old manager emphasized. Mourinho cited the example of Federico Valverde being stepped on by an opponent from the first minute but still standing firm, showing a clear difference in situation handling between the two teams. When asked if he could help Real Madrid players gain more experience and competitiveness, Mourinho affirmed that he did not intend to criticize his players' fighting spirit. "The team worked extremely hard and I have nothing to blame any player for. They gave everything they had," he said. Mourinho emphasized that when using the word "naive," he was referring to specific situations on the pitch, such as failing to exploit foul situations to pressure opponents. "I use the words naive or pure to talk about clear, specific situations, such as simple yellow cards. For example, the situation of stepping on someone's foot is clearly a case deserving a yellow card," he explained further. Regarding responsibility after the defeat, Mourinho did not blame the players. He said his students had done what they could in the match: "I have nothing to blame the players for. We deserved to win, but deserving doesn't mean you definitely get a point." Mourinho's calm demeanor after the defeat showed he was not losing control, but it also reflected the reality that the Royal club is facing greater challenges than a single match result. This defeat could be a valuable lesson for Real Madrid in their quest to reclaim the La Liga title this season.