Mourinho laments ‘naive’ Real Madrid players, but refuses to criticise Mbappe after loss 1-0 to Real Betis: “We all take the penalty together” [video] | OneFootball

Mourinho suffered defeat for the first time this season [Getty Images]

Real Betis 1-0 Real Madrid 

José Mourinho opted to praise the performance of his Real Madrid side, following their first loss of the new season in La Liga at the hands of Real Betis on Friday evening.

A late goal by Betis substitute Troy Parrott in the 81st minute ended Real’s 100% record in their fourth game of the new league campaign. The visitors were unfortunate not to level the scores late on, with a stunning overhead kick by Carlos Espi ruled out for a marginal offside, before Kylian Mbappe missed a stoppage-time penalty which was saved by Alvaro Valles.

Mourinho’s side had 59% possession on the night as well as double the attempts(20) of their opponents but left with a defeat having failed to find a ruthless edge in front of goal. Bernardo Silva did not start in the Real line-up for the second match running, but was introduced for the latter stages as Mourinho made changes which he claims were not a reflection on the performance.

“The team played a great game,” Mourinho told reporters after the match. “Sometimes you lose and you don't know why or how to explain it. We were very dominant, the centre-backs were imperious and controlled absolutely everything. A lot of attacking play and a lot of scoring opportunities.

“If the game ends in a draw, we'll be frustrated because we did more, so imagine how we feel about the defeat. The team was always good. Betis had some counter-attacks, and that's normal. The game was all about Real Madrid. Betis, who played to draw, hit the jackpot.

“I might change my mind after watching the game tomorrow, but today, from the bench, I don’t know why we lost. I can’t justify it. Collectively, the team played very well in every aspect. Individually, they played very well too. I have nothing to criticise about any player’s attitude, quite the opposite. The players gave their all. We clearly deserved to win, but deserving doesn’t get you points.”

Madrid naivety  

Mourinho did, however, have one area of complaint regarding his team’s lack of nous during certain moments. The Real boss was himself booked for interactions from the sidelines, but felt his team did not approach the game with enough awareness.

“The Betis players are smarter than the Real Madrid players, who are pure, naive,” Mourinho said. “In the first play of the game, it was a clear yellow card for a player who fouled Valverde , and then another yellow for a player who committed a serious foul on Vini Jr.

“The Madrid players immediately bounced back, but the Betis players are smarter and, with the support of a fantastic fanbase that pushes, pressures, and achieves these kinds of things.

“I don't know how Arda finished the first half with a yellow card when he had played so much and only committed a minor foul and received a yellow card, but then they were all over him. I had to take him off because he was in a dangerous situation.

“I made changes not because I wasn't happy with the team, but to take off players who had yellow cards. I didn’t like that, but after losing a game, to say now that we win or lose because of a yellow card, I won’t do that.

“We’re naive in the sense that Betis players try to influence the referee's decision over the smallest things. Real Madrid players, in situations that should warrant a yellow card, like when he stepped on Valverde, stayed on their feet. That's worthy of a Real Madrid captain.

“On the other side, that kid who was lying there in front of my bench, I thought an ambulance was coming, but in the end, there wasn't one. That's what I mean. And when you go to matches against teams with this kind of culture, this kind of mentality, it's a factor working against you.

“But I'm very happy with my players, all of them. As a team, I really liked them, and individually I have absolutely nothing to criticise.

“And the missed penalty [by Mbappe] is like I always say: when one of us goes to take a penalty, we all go together.”