Some players thrive on drama, using every controversial moment to grab headlines and shift blame elsewhere. Kylian Mbappé isn’t built that way, and his response to a fiery Madrid derby truly proved it once again.
Tempers flared, and accusations flew in the aftermath of a bitterly contested rivalry match. Yet amid all the noise, one of the world’s biggest stars genuinely chose a measured, far calmer approach instead.
What happened during the derby
Real Madrid traveled across town to face rivals Atlético Madrid in a fiery derby that carried heavy bragging-rights stakes. The hosts won 2-1 at the Metropolitano, dealing a sizable early blow to Los Blancos.
Alejandro Grimaldo eventually converted a second-half penalty after Dean Huijsen was sent off, before Jonathan David doubled Atlético’s lead. Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back late, but it wasn’t enough to rescue a dramatic final result.
It marked José Mourinho’s first Madrid derby since his return for a second spell in charge at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid’s players were so frustrated that they skipped postgame interviews altogether, leaving anger simmering overnight.
Referee under fire after contested calls
Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias became the center of attention once the final whistle blew at the Metropolitano. His handling of 2 rough first-half challenges sparked outrage from Real Madrid’s bench and supporters.
Cristian Romero was shown only a yellow card for stepping on Jude Bellingham’s knee after a VAR review. Kang-in Lee escaped punishment despite catching Federico Valverde’s left ankle with his studs.
Contested refereeing decisions are hardly new in Spanish football, but this derby fallout quickly became a major talking point. The reaction showed how quickly a single match can reignite old debates.
Mourinho demands answers over 2 non-reds
José Mourinho did not hold back after that bitter final whistle, bringing printed images of 2 disputed challenges into his postgame news conference. He insisted 2 clear red cards had gone unpunished by match officials.
The Portuguese coach argued the rough challenges from Cristian Romero and Kang-in Lee both warranted dismissals. He said Real Madrid could imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against 9 would have looked like if those calls had gone differently.
The derby defeat left Mourinho facing early scrutiny during his second spell at the helm of the Bernabéu. Madrid now trails LaLiga leaders Barcelona by 6 points, with only 7 league games played so far.
Mbappé breaks his silence with AS
Real Madrid’s players did not fulfill their post-match media commitments after the final whistle, with frustration still high over the officiating. About 24 hours later, one of the club’s biggest stars spoke publicly.
Mbappé spoke to Diario AS from Zurich, where he traveled to sign an agreement with his new sportswear brand, Swiss company On. It was there that he addressed the refereeing controversy and explained why he did not want to criticize the official.
Mbappé’s comments arrived at a pivotal moment, with Real Madrid still reeling from a chaotic derby weekend. Fans and pundits were waiting to see whether he would publicly side with his frustrated manager.
Why Mbappé won’t blame the officials
“I don’t think I’ve ever been a player who talks much about referees,” Mbappé said plainly at the news conference. He made clear that he wasn’t about to change that approach now, despite the controversy.
He didn’t shy away from admitting fault on the officials’ part, openly and readily acknowledging the referee was human and had made genuine mistakes during the derby, errors he ultimately chose not to dwell on.
Rather than publicly siding with his embattled coach, Mourinho, Mbappé chose to keep his personal opinions entirely private. It was a deliberate stance, one that avoided fueling further controversy around an already tense derby aftermath.
Little-known fact: Mbappé has said his parents encouraged him to explore different activities as a child, including playing the flute for 1 or 2 years around age 7.
Focus shifts to self-criticism and growth
Instead of pointing fingers, Mbappé urged his teammates toward genuine accountability and honest reflection. “We have to work and do more,” he said, calling on Real Madrid to respond quickly and collectively on the pitch.
The forward stressed that endlessly dwelling on refereeing decisions wouldn’t change the outcome or help Real Madrid move past it together. He wanted each teammate to focus only on what they could genuinely control going forward.
Mbappé openly acknowledged the loss was a real step backward for Real Madrid’s ambitions this season. Still, he remained genuinely confident the squad had enough quality to bounce back and keep fighting for big trophies.
A result that stings in the title race
The defeat carries real weight in an already tight title race, leaving Real Madrid trailing LaLiga leaders Barcelona by 6 points after just 7 games. A Clásico showdown at Camp Nou also looms in October.
Pressure is mounting quickly on Mourinho, whose return to Real Madrid was always going to face intense scrutiny. Losing a derby so early only sharpened questions around the team’s form and response under him.
What comes next for Real Madrid
Mbappé enters this crucial stretch fresh off a historic World Cup, where he scored 10 goals to claim the Golden Boot outright. He is now the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 22 career goals.
France ultimately finished 4th at the tournament, a modest result given the talent on that roster. Still, Mbappé’s personal exploits kept him firmly in this year’s global conversation for individual honors.
Mbappé described his new situation with France under Zinedine Zidane as feeling like something out of a movie. After the derby, he said Real Madrid had to keep moving forward, stay on the right path, and do more work to bring trophies back.
TL;DR
- Real Madrid lost the Madrid derby 2-1 at Atlético’s Metropolitano stadium.
- Mourinho publicly blamed referee Ortiz Arias for missing 2 red cards.
- Mbappé admitted the referee made mistakes but refused to criticize him.
- He urged his teammates toward self-improvement rather than dwelling on the officiating.
- Madrid now trail Barcelona by 6 points, with a Clásico looming in October.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
