La Liga: Jose Mourinho calls Real Madrid 'naive' after narrow defeat to Real Betis

La Liga: Jose Mourinho calls Real Madrid 'naive' after narrow defeat to Real Betis

Madrid had entered the contest with three wins from their opening three league fixtures during Mourinho's second spell at the helm. Despite controlling much of the attacking play, they repeatedly found Betis difficult to break down.

Vinicius Junior came closest early on when he struck the post after Arda Guler sent the ball across the face of goal. Kylian Mbappe was also frustrated by blocks from Natan Bernardo de Souza and Marc Bartra before later clipping the crossbar with a delicate attempt.

Betis then delivered the decisive blow in the 81st minute. Troy Parrott reacted quickest to a rebound after Thibaut Courtois had denied Nelson Deossa's header, firing in his first goal for the club.

Madrid thought they had restored parity when Carlos Espi converted acrobatically from a Vinicius cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

The visitors were handed another opportunity deep into stoppage time after Natan fouled Vinicius inside the area. However, Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles kept out Mbappe's 93rd-minute penalty to seal a memorable win.

Both sides remain on nine points after four matches, with Madrid missing the chance to move above Barcelona.

"Betis's players in this sense are cleverer than Real Madrid's players. Real Madrid's players are pure and naive," said Mourinho.

"In the first passage of play in the match, there was a clear yellow card on a player who hit Valverde. And a minute later, another yellow card for a player who committed a significant foul on Vinicius.

"But Real Madrid's players get up straight away, while Betis's players are cleverer, and of course with the backing of wonderful supporters who push and apply pressure, they achieve this kind of thing."

He added: "By the word naive or innocent I mean that there are clear, specific situations, like simple yellow cards. For example, the stamp on the foot... it is a clear case that warrants a yellow card."
 

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