Jose Mourinho said a Real Betis player was “pretending to be dead” as he explained the yellow card he received during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat in La Liga.
The Real Madrid head coach was cautioned in the 55th minute of the match, which ended with the visitors suffering their first defeat since the return of the “Special One”. Mourinho was later asked about the incident and responded: “Betis player was pretending to be dead.”
Real Betis scored the only goal of the game in the 81st minute, leaving Real Madrid unable to recover before the final whistle. The result marked a first loss for the team since Mourinho’s return, while the yellow card became one of the notable moments involving the Portuguese manager during the contest.
The match remained finely balanced until the decisive goal arrived in the closing stages. Real Betis then held on to their advantage, with Real Madrid needing a late opportunity to rescue a result.
That chance came in the 94th minute when Kylian Mbappe was awarded a penalty. However, the forward was unable to convert from the spot, ending Real Madrid’s hopes of avoiding defeat.
Mourinho’s booking came well before Real Betis found the net, but the manager’s explanation afterwards focused on what he viewed as an exaggerated reaction from a player of the home side. His description of the incident provided the central point of his response when questioned about the caution.
Despite the late penalty opportunity, Real Madrid finished the match without scoring. Real Betis’s goal in the 81st minute therefore proved enough to secure a 1-0 victory and inflict the first defeat of Mourinho’s latest spell in charge.
The result was settled by a single goal, while Mbappe’s missed penalty in stoppage time ensured that Real Betis kept their narrow lead. Mourinho’s yellow card in the 55th minute, and his subsequent comment about the behaviour of a Real Betis player, added an extra talking point to a match in which the home side ultimately took all the available points.