Real Madrid faced their first major setback of the 2026/27 season this past Sunday, when they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The Merengues firmly believe that they were left hard done by poor refereeing, with manager Jose Mourinho lashing out at the match official after the match.

And, according to journalist Ben Fernandes Santos , Mourinho has sent a clear message to his player: there is full confidence in the process and no intention of changing course.

The Portuguese coach remains fully committed to the project and believes his team will eventually turn the situation around.

That was the central message Mourinho delivered to his players after the match at the Metropolitano: complete confidence in the work being done and the belief that both performances and results will improve.

Real Madrid lost to Atletico Madrid in the derby. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

Mourinho was keen to prevent the defeat from creating doubts inside the dressing room.

The Real Madrid manager believes the project is still in its early stages and continues to trust both the individual quality within his squad and the team’s collective development.