Mourinho refuses to comment on Villarreal refereeing, warns early minutes are enough

On the bench at the Martínez Valero stadium, José Mourinho stared down a room of reporters, his lips sealed after the contentious refereeing against Villarreal. The veteran Portuguese, accustomed to "a thousand battles", chose to speak only about the next match against Roma, leaving the Villarreal incident untouched.

Referee transparency grievance

Mourinho explained that the only thing that truly irks him is not knowing the referee’s name until "twenty‑four hours, or even three weeks, before the game". He said this lack of advance information fuels his frustration, even though he otherwise trusts the officials.

When pressed about the Saturday match, the manager declined to answer, adding that the first minute of any game is "enough for those who know". He reiterated that he would not comment on the domestic championship match, describing it as a "Champions League game" where he has "nothing to say" about the league fixture.

European giants Real Madrid and Blancos face Roma challenge

Looking ahead to Roma

Mourinho highlighted the upcoming clash with Roma as a special occasion, noting his affection for the Italian club after guiding them to a Conference League triumph – the first European trophy in the club’s history. He praised Roma’s recent form, saying they have not yet suffered a defeat this season, which raises the stakes against a Real Madrid side aiming for a sixth consecutive win.

He described Roma as a "strong, motivated team" eager to return to the Champions League at the Olimpico. Mourinho stressed that the pressure of the competition is self‑imposed and that his side must simply play well to secure the points.

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In closing, Mourinho affirmed his confidence in the three teams involved, stating he harbours no negative feelings and trusts that everything will go smoothly. He hinted that both Real Madrid and Roma are likely to progress, and that the 90 minutes of the upcoming match will be "normal" despite the surrounding hype.