Mourinho: A Great Match and a Massive Win, but VAR Was Asleep

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho expressed his satisfaction following a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico. The Portuguese tactician praised his players for their performance but hit out at VAR over an incident involving Joao Cancelo, claiming the Catalan defender should have been sent off.

"First of all, it was a fantastic, top-level match that every football fan surely enjoyed watching. Two teams going all out for the win. My players were outstanding—well-organized, focused, and brave enough to play out from the back against a high-pressing opponent," Mourinho said.

"We had chances to make it 2-0. Barcelona pushed hard in the second half, but we remained calm and organized. Even at 1-1, we didn't lose our composure. We faced a formidable opponent with a referee who, in my opinion, handled the game brilliantly, but VAR seemed to be asleep in the 60th minute. It was a clear red card for Joao Cancelo for his foul on Diomande. Regardless, it was a great match and a massive win," the Portuguese coach added.

Mourinho also commented on the display of Andriy Lunin, who stepped in between the posts for Thibaut Courtois.

"Nobody asked me about Lunin, but had we lost due to his mistakes, the first question would have been about him. The only thing I told him was that you don't train just to sit on the bench. He had a very composed and solid game. We have the best goalkeeper in the world, but today none of us wept because Thibaut wasn't playing. The squad is incredibly united," the manager highlighted.

The boss also revealed that Federico Valverde played through the pain barrier after picking up a knock.

"There is one more name I want to highlight. Valverde played injured for more than 40 minutes. He picked up a knock, but he wanted to push through and give his absolute all. He left everything on the pitch," Mourinho stated.

The Portuguese tactician also praised his squad depth, emphasizing that every player works hard to earn a starting spot, with lineup choices determined by the specific opponent and tactical demands.

"I have a very strong and balanced squad. I have players on the bench who are ready to start. That is a massive advantage," Mourinho concluded.