Mourinho: “We played a great game, sometimes you lose and do not know how to explain it”

José Mourinho left La Cartuja convinced that Real Madrid had deserved far more than a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis. Parrot’s 80th-minute goal and Kylian Mbappé’s missed penalty in stoppage time left Madrid without a reward despite its dominance and chances.

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We played a great game. Sometimes you lose and do not know why, sometimes you lose and do not know how to explain it.

“We played a great game. Sometimes you lose and do not know why, sometimes you lose and do not know how to explain it,” Mourinho said at his news conference.

The Madrid coach praised his team’s control and singled out the defense. “We were very dominant. The center-backs were imperial and controlled absolutely everything,” he said. Mourinho also pointed to the team’s attacking output, saying it had produced “a huge amount of attacking play and many scoring opportunities.”

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We were very dominant. The center-backs were imperial and controlled absolutely everything.

He said even a draw would have frustrated him because Madrid had done more to win. “If it ends in a draw, we leave frustrated because we did more. Imagine with a defeat,” he said.

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If it ends in a draw, we leave frustrated because we did more. Imagine with a defeat.

Mourinho avoided judging the refereeing decisions, saying he had not yet reviewed the plays. He also praised Carlos Espí for his contribution and attitude despite uncertainty over a possible offside call. “If he has 10 minutes and scores a fantastic goal, which may or may not be offside, he has done his job well,” Mourinho said. He added that the player had great potential because he was humble, hardworking and eager to learn.

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He has great potential and will always improve, because he is humble, hardworking and wants to learn. I could not be happier with the boy.