Clasico: José Mourinho attacks VAR

25.10.26 FT LaLiga Spain

Barcelona

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Real Madrid

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On Sunday evening, José Mourinho won his tactical duel against Hansi Flick in the first Clasico since his return.

In this Sunday’s Clasico, won by Los Blancos (2-1), the players of Real Madrid brilliantly disrupted a Catalan side that had been arriving in good form. After the match, José Mourinho was understandably very pleased, as he made clear at his press conference.

“It was a great match. Very high level. You can win through luck, by defending for the whole match… But we won calmly and deservedly. […] We won thanks to the players tonight,” he said. The Special One also took a slight swipe at the refereeing: “VAR was asleep in the 60th minute, with a red card for Cancelo and his foul on Diomandé.”

Pedri analyses the match

Although Lamine Yamal’s side were considered the strong favourites for the match, the disappointment was considerable. After the game, Pedri gave his analysis in front of the DAZN cameras.

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“We did not play a great match. We were not ourselves. We were a little better in the second half, but they hurt us with their strengths, the transitions, and we defended poorly. In the first half we were slow, we lost possession, and against these teams you pay for it. It’s three points; obviously, we wanted to win, but the season is long. It’s a match we wanted to win, we are sad, but La Liga is not won now,” the Canary Island-born midfielder admitted.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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