Dean Huijsen says Real Madrid need to be more streetwise after raising concerns about opponents appearing to simulate during matches.
The Real Madrid defender believes his side lack a degree of craft and must learn to manage such situations more effectively. “We need to be more cunning,” Huijsen said, according to the original title of the report.
His comments came after Real Madrid beat Inter Milan 2-1 at home in the Champions League on Tuesday. Huijsen was booked in the 80th minute of the match.
The warning was the latest incident linked to a wider concern around how Real Madrid deal with opponents’ actions during games. Huijsen’s suggestion was that the team must respond with greater awareness and cleverness rather than allowing situations to work against them.
Real Madrid secured victory over Inter Milan with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde, both scored in the first half. Those strikes gave Jose Mourinho’s side the platform for a 2-1 success on home soil.
Although Inter Milan found a way back into the contest, Real Madrid held on to claim the three points. Huijsen’s booking came late in the match, with the defender shown a yellow card in the 80th minute.
The issue had also been addressed by Mourinho after Real Madrid’s defeat by Real Betis in the previous round of La Liga. The manager spoke about the same problem following that loss, indicating that it was not limited to the Champions League meeting with Inter Milan.
Huijsen has therefore added his voice to Mourinho’s assessment of the team’s approach. His remarks focus on the need for Real Madrid to become more experienced in dealing with incidents that can influence the rhythm and outcome of a match.
The victory over Inter Milan was nevertheless underpinned by Real Madrid’s first-half goals. Mbappe and Valverde provided the decisive finishing before Huijsen’s late caution became one of the notable moments from the closing stages.
For Huijsen, the match highlighted both sides of the team’s current challenge. Real Madrid were able to produce the goals required to defeat Inter Milan, but he believes they still need to show more nous when opponents attempt to gain an advantage through simulation or other incidents.
Mourinho had already identified the same shortcoming after the La Liga defeat by Real Betis. Following Tuesday’s Champions League win, Huijsen’s remarks suggest that Real Madrid remain aware of the need to improve in that area, despite the positive result and the contributions of Mbappe and Valverde.