Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has criticised the behaviour of Real Betis players and accused them of simulation following his side’s 1-0 defeat in the fourth round of the Spanish championship.
The match was decided by a late goal, with Real Madrid conceding in the 81st minute. The result left Mourinho’s team on the wrong side of a narrow contest against Real Betis, who secured victory with the only goal of the game.
Mourinho’s comments focused on the conduct of the Betis players during the match. He questioned their actions and claimed that some incidents involved simulation. The report does not provide the exact wording of his remarks, but identifies the behaviour of the opposition as the main subject of his reaction after the defeat.
For Real Madrid, the loss came despite the small margin between the two teams on the scoreboard. Real Betis scored once, while Mourinho’s side failed to find an equaliser before the final whistle. The outcome meant that the visitors left the match without a point after conceding late in the game.
The defeat was recorded in the fourth round of the Spanish championship and formed part of a difficult period for Real Madrid, with a European fixture already next on their schedule. On 8 September, Mourinho’s players are due to play at home against Inter in the opening round of the Champions League.
That match will give Real Madrid an immediate opportunity to respond after the setback against Real Betis. It will also mark the start of their Champions League campaign, with Mourinho preparing his squad for the first round of the competition.
The comments about simulation therefore came after a match in which the decisive moment arrived late. Real Betis’ 81st-minute goal was enough to settle the contest, while Real Madrid were unable to recover during the remaining minutes.
Despite the narrow scoreline, the post-match focus was not limited to the result. Mourinho also drew attention to the behaviour he believed had influenced the way the game was played. His criticism of the Real Betis players added a further talking point to a match already defined by a late winning goal and Real Madrid’s failure to score.
Real Madrid’s next fixture against Inter will be played at home on 8 September in the Champions League’s first round. It follows the 1-0 loss to Real Betis, in which the only goal arrived nine minutes before the end of normal time.