La Liga Matchday 4: Real Madrid suffered a 0-1 defeat away to Real Betis, their first league loss of the new season. After the match, Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho attended the post-match press conference.

On the controversy over the decision in the final moments

Mourinho: “I didn’t look at it carefully. I didn’t see it, and I didn’t see it in the dressing room either, so I can’t comment.”

On the team’s first defeat

Mourinho: “I think the team played a fantastic game. Sometimes you lose and you don’t know why; sometimes you lose and you don’t know how to explain it. We were very dominant. Our centre-backs were outstanding and completely controlled the game. We created a lot of chances in attack and had several opportunities to score.

“If the game had ended in a draw, we would all have been frustrated because we played better, let alone after losing. If Espi comes on for ten minutes and scores a great goal — whether it was offside or not — he has done his job. He has huge potential and will continue to improve because he is humble, hardworking and willing to learn. I am very happy with the kid.”

On substituting Arda Güler

Mourinho: “It was difficult to take Güler off, yes. Very difficult, because he was playing very well. Betis’ players were smarter than Real Madrid’s players. They were strong, tough and ‘clever’.

“The first action of the game was a foul on Valverde, which was obviously a yellow card. Then another player fouled Vinicius and should have received a yellow, but Real Madrid’s players immediately got back to their feet. Betis’ players were smarter, and with the support of the home crowd, they achieved what they wanted.

“I don’t know how Güler ended the first half with a yellow card. He played so much and committed only one small foul, yet he was booked. They were ‘hunting’ him, so I had to take him off.”

On the team’s substitutions and adjustments

Mourinho: “The team played very well. Betis had counter-attacks, which is normal. I haven’t looked at the statistics, but I think we created… it wasn’t just about possession; we created a lot of chances.

“We missed three or four clear opportunities, and their goalkeeper made three or four excellent saves. The substitutions were not because I was unhappy with the team. They were made to take off players who were on yellow cards. If Diomande comes on to play out wide, then Arnold is better suited to playing with him than Dumfries.”

On the referee’s performance

Mourinho: “I don’t know why I was given a yellow card, but I accept it. I stood up because it looked like a Betis player had gone down in front of the bench. But I’m not sure. I can’t tell you exactly what happened.

“I saw a lot of people on the bench looking frustrated while watching the replay on television. I think the referee kept the game flowing, which is something I like. The standard for yellow cards in the first half… Betis went into half-time without a single yellow card. But I’m not going to say that we won or lost because of one yellow card.

“Tomorrow, after watching the match again, I may change my opinion. But today, based on the feeling from the bench, I don’t know why we lost. The team played very well, and I can’t blame anyone individually.

“But ‘deserving to win’ doesn’t give you points. Congratulations to Betis. They played for a draw during the match, and in the end they hit the jackpot.”

On whether the team was too ‘naive’

Mourinho: “I have nothing to blame any player for. When I say ‘naive’, I mean Betis’ players used small incidents to try to influence the referee, while Real Madrid’s players didn’t receive cards in some situations when they clearly should have.

“Valverde stayed on his feet. The Betis player who went down in front of the bench looked as if he had died. I thought an ambulance was going to come, but it didn’t.”