Jose Mourinho Returns to Full Battle Mode

SERGIO LOPEZ, "AS"

The reserved and diplomatic tone of Jose Mourinho's early days is officially a thing of the past. The Portuguese tactician has reverted to his trademark combative persona, turning his sharp criticisms directly toward the Disciplinary Committee and La Liga's leadership. They join an ever-growing list that already includes referees, the media, and football executives.

For those who bought into his initial calm demeanor, reality has swiftly bitten back. By mid-October and after barely ten matches, Mourinho has already aimed his arrows in almost every direction—match officials, the Spanish football system, the press, and even his own supporters, with only Kylian Mbappé seemingly untouchable for now. In the bowels of the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the manager once again showed his true colours: never raising his voice, but delivering words that cause tremors, making it clear he intends to "open people's eyes" to what is happening.

The Fury Over Vinicius' Suspension
The main trigger for his anger was the timing of Vinicius Junior's suspension. While disciplinary rulings are typically released on Wednesdays, the official announcement of a four-match ban came just two hours before their European tie in Rome.

Mourinho hit out fiercely at the timing, asking reporters whether it is normal for a player representing a Spanish club—defending the country's UEFA coefficient and reputation—to learn of such a heavy sanction mere hours before a crucial match. He reached for a Portuguese proverb about a hidden cat whose tail is sticking out, underlining that the behind-the-scenes machinations are now happening in plain sight.

Tight Schedule and La Liga Backlash
Next in the Portuguese manager's crosshairs was the league schedule. Real Madrid are set to face Valencia away at the Mestalla on a Saturday in early November, despite playing a gruelling away game in Athens on Wednesday night just three days prior. With barely 72 hours of rest ahead of an international break, Mourinho labelled the scheduling a complete lack of respect.

The manager emphatically dismissed excuses regarding television broadcast rights, declaring that a quarter of a century in football stops him from taking such explanations at face value. In his eyes, these decisions are no accident, and the fans deserve to know the whole truth.

Media and Referees in the Firing Line
These fresh attacks come just days after an all-out assault on the media. Mourinho accused journalists of deliberately stirring tension around Mbappé's off-pitch activities in the hope of provoking boos at the Bernabéu. Shortly after, he boycotted a press conference to protest refereeing decisions, cementing the feeling that an all-out war on every front has only just begun.

Tensions in Spanish football have peaked again following a string of controversial officiating calls. A clear double standard across two tight offside calls against Villarreal—one flagged against Real Madrid and another overlooked in favour of their opponents—fuelled suspicions of bias. However, the real storm erupted around the derby at the Metropolitano and the subsequent referee appointments.

The Referees' Technical Committee faced a scathing broadside over the selection of match official Ortiz Arias: "The refereeing committee must be delighted because everything went completely abnormally. First, the referee's name is known a week in advance, when by rule it should be 24 hours before the match. Then they choose a 41-year-old with no international status... clearly not chosen for his exceptional quality."

Even fiercer criticism was reserved for VAR official Trujillo Suarez, who has a long track record of controversial calls in Real Madrid fixtures—including ties against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, Osasuna, and Girona: "He has quite a resume as a VAR referee in Real's matches. While the on-field referee simply lacked the experience and stature for a derby of this magnitude, this gentleman faced no pressure at all. There is no pressure at Las Rozas. Or at least, that's what we think. Pairing an inexperienced referee fit for small games with a video referee sporting such a rich history deserves congratulations to the committee."

These pointed words toward the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) come alongside paradoxical remarks regarding trust in referees and the 'Negreira case'. While he made sarcastic remarks about whether the scandal still hangs over the league, his stance in international media was far more unyielding—suggesting that if left unpunished, it would stand as the biggest corruption scandal in global football history. Doubts over external interference were further stoked over an unretaken penalty against Betis:

"Was the penalty not retaken because VAR doesn't know the rules... or simply because they didn't want to?"

Messages for the Fans and the Dressing Room
Jose Mourinho stayed true to his unmistakable style and didn't miss the chance to address the Santiago Bernabéu crowd directly:

"I hope the Bernabéu crowd shows fairness. And being fair also means being smart—reading between the lines and understanding the dynamics and objectives."

Those remarks were aimed at potential jeers directed toward Kylian Mbappé, while he stressed that negative reactions toward Vinicius come from supporters largely misled by media narratives.

The players themselves were not spared from criticism either. Early in the campaign, the squad was labelled as overly naive and lacking character, while opponents smartly exploit the dark arts of the game. A stern warning was also handed to young Asensio following a drink-driving incident:

"Anyone can make a mistake, but when mistakes start piling up, it becomes a different story."

Barely mid-October and with just ten matches played, 'The Special One' has made it abundantly clear that the calm approach is gone. Mourinho has officially declared open war on all fronts.