Mourinho: “There are a lot of people who don’t know the rules”

Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho addressed controversial penalty decisions after his team's 3-0 victory against Racing Santander on November 1, 2026. Mourinho defended an overturned penalty call involving Aurélien Tchouaméni, stating that many people misunderstand football's frequently updated rules. He explained that after reviewing footage on an iPad, he was certain VAR would correctly rule that the ball had merely rebounded off the midfielder's body.

Beyond refereeing matters, Mourinho highlighted Real Madrid's defensive commitment and squad progression following less than four months in charge. He noted tactical decisions including playing Trent Alexander-Arnold and managing player fatigue ahead of a midweek European trip to Athens. Mourinho also praised Racing Santander's competitive atmosphere and intense pressing despite Real Madrid securing the 3-0 away win.