Diego Simeone Asked Jose Mourinho to Behave After Heated Madrid Derby

The first Madrid derby of the season produced plenty of drama on the pitch, but the tension continued after the final whistle as Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone addressed Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.

Following Atletico’s 2-1 victory at the Metropolitano on Sunday, September 20, 2026, Simeone offered a pointed response to Mourinho over his conduct during the fiercely contested encounter. The Argentine coach specifically referred to the heated exchanges between the two managers on the touchline.

According to Get Football Spain News, Simeone delivered his message during his post-match press conference. He was asked about the confrontation between himself and Mourinho during the match, with the Atletico boss stressing the importance of maintaining respect for match officials.

“You cannot lose respect for the referee. No matter how big your name is, even if you are Mourinho, you still have to respect them. Sometimes decisions go in our favour, and sometimes they do not,” Simeone said.

The derby itself proved to be a dramatic affair for the home side. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David secured a 2-1 victory for Los Colchoneros, while Real Madrid’s only response came through a header from Antonio Rudiger.

The result also had a significant impact on the La Liga standings. Atletico moved above their city rivals into second place, while Real Madrid slipped to fourth following their defeat at the Metropolitano.

However, the main talking point within the Real Madrid camp after the match was the refereeing. Mourinho launched a strong criticism of referee Ortiz Arias and his team of officials, questioning several of the decisions made during the derby.

Simeone subsequently issued what amounted to a firm warning to his fellow manager, arguing that reputation and status should not place anyone above the need to respect referees.

The Atletico coach also stressed that high-profile figures in football carry a responsibility to set an example. In his view, established managers should be particularly careful with their words because of the influence they have over supporters and the wider football community.

“You cannot cross the line. Regardless of who you are—Mourinho, Flick, Pellegrini, me or anyone else—we need to be careful about what we say,” Simeone added.

Simeone’s comments added another layer to an already intense Madrid derby, with Atletico able to celebrate a crucial victory while the debate over Mourinho’s reaction to the officiating continued beyond the final whistle.