Real Madrid suffered its second defeat in La Liga this season with a score of 2-1 against Atletico Madrid. With this result, the Merengues fell six points behind league leader FC Barcelona. While Real Madrid's defense had difficulty in the match against Atletico Madrid's effective attacks, referee Ortiz Arias' decisions were also a matter of debate.

During the match, some referee decisions made by Real Madrid drew Mourinho's reaction. In particular, the red card decision given after Cuti Romero's foul on Jude Bellingham and Kang-In Lee's intervention on Federico Valverde attracted attention. Romero first received a yellow card after his harsh move against Bellingham, but after VAR intervention, this decision was turned into a red card. Lee's foul at the same minutes was ignored by the referee.

In the second half, after a penalty awarded to Atletico Madrid and Dean Huijsen receiving a yellow card, Huijsen's card turned red. Mourinho argued that these decisions determined the course of the match. In his statement at the press conference, he said: "Yes, we could have skipped the press conference because that's the story of the match. There are two clear red cards. The fact that we played with one less player afterwards caused us great difficulty. I embrace my players for the class and personality they showed in the first half. The only ones who are happy are Atletico and the Referees Committee. It was all very strange. We knew who the referee was a week ago, normally this is announced 24 hours before. The 41-year-old referee is not an international referee, so he cannot be a great referee. Afterwards, this man could not handle the pressure. Also "VAR referee Trujillo called him for the first red card but not for the second and he has a great history with Madrid. Isn't there pressure at Las Rozas? I congratulate the committee." he said.

Avoiding making a clear judgment about Huijsen's card and the penalty, Mourinho said, "I haven't seen it yet, I was too far away. If the foul is outside the box, then it should be a foul and a red card. If it is inside and there is a clear push, it will be a red card. But you saw the second half. In the first half we played with eleven people against nine people, in the second half we were ten against eleven people. How does the match end with nine people against eleven people?" he said.Although the point difference in La Liga has increased, Mourinho stated that they will continue to fight for his team. Pointing out the injustice of the referee's decisions, he said, "We want to get more points and get to the top. But it's not about the start, it's about how it ends. I talked about many things, but the canceled goal against Osasuna is funny. Barcelona's penalty is also funny... I thought I would return to a different league, but I was told that this did not happen. We will continue to fight. My players are upset, but they will receive a hug from their coach. Diomande's first yellow card in the Elche match was not normal. The first half was very difficult, we could have had nine people, but the second "We faced their eleven at the end of the half, but I liked my team's determination more." he said.

Mourinho also expressed his doubts about the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy to harm his team: "If they allow us to compete on equal terms, we will do it. I do not want to say that it was planned, I want to hope that mistakes were made. The committee made a mistake in appointing a 41-year-old referee. Things that are not normal are happening in this stadium. The canceled goal against Osasuna is a joke, what happened in San Sebastián..." he said.