Mourinho skips Real Madrid press conference to avoid ban before Sevilla and Barcelona games

Jose Mourinho chose not to attend the post-match news conference after Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the club’s coach apparently keen to avoid disciplinary action before two important fixtures.

The win came in the eighth round of La Liga, but Mourinho did not appear in the media room. According to Marca, La Liga confirmed that the Portuguese had still not arrived 40 minutes after the final whistle.

No Real Madrid player spoke to the media either, continuing what has become a familiar pattern for the club this season. However, Mourinho’s absence attracted particular attention because of the reason behind his decision.

Marca reported that Mourinho had opted not to speak because he feared comments about the refereeing could result in a suspension. The Real Madrid manager said: “I will not speak because I want to be on the bench against Sevilla and Barcelona.”

Mourinho had been angered by the performance of referee Diaz de Mera during the match, and his frustration was clear throughout the game. The sending-off of Vinicius was described as the incident that finally pushed his anger to its limit.

The Portuguese had already been unhappy since the derby, when he believed Atletico Madrid should have finished the match with nine players. Vinicius’ dismissal, following an incident in which he pulled Saliba’s hair, intensified Mourinho’s anger.

Tensions within Real Madrid over refereeing decisions have grown from one round to the next, while the Negreira case continues to remain in the background. Against that backdrop, Mourinho decided that silence was the safest option.

His decision allowed him to avoid further controversy and preserve his availability for the upcoming fixtures against Sevilla and Barcelona. Rather than address the issues immediately after the Villarreal match, he will delay his next media appearance until Tuesday.

Mourinho is expected to speak at the news conference before Real Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Roma.