Dean Huijsen<\/a> has given a revealing account of Real Madrid<\/a>\u2019s turbulent Madrid derby, admitting responsibility for his sending-off while questioning the lack of VAR intervention in other controversial incidents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Speaking to OK Diario<\/a>, the centre-back also discussed Jose Mourinho\u2019s demands, Barcelona\u2019s six-point advantage in La Liga, title race and the controversy surrounding the support shirts for Ceuta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Huijsen described the aftermath of the derby as difficult but insisted Real Madrid must learn from the defeat.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Reflecting on the incident that resulted in his red card<\/a> and a penalty, he acknowledged that the decision was consistent with the wording of the rules while arguing that referees should have more discretion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a right nightmare, obviously. But that\u2019s football for you. You\u2019ve got to learn from it and move on.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n On the sending-off itself, Huijsen explained his interpretation of the incident involving Giuliano Simeone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think the rule says that if you grab someone, it\u2019s a red card. By the book, it has to be a red card, although for me it should be a bit more open to interpretation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cObviously, if you grab him by the neck and throw him with all your might, that\u2019s different.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a grab, but Giuliano\u2019s also clever for letting himself fall and winning the penalty. I think the rule should leave a bit more room for the referee\u2019s interpretation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Asked whether he was given an explanation, Huijsen admitted he could not remember.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cTo be honest, I can\u2019t remember. I think I asked why it was a red card, but I don\u2019t know if they told me anything or not.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The defender then accepted that his dismissal changed the match, stating, \u201cObviously it\u2019s my responsibility, and we could have won the match.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Huijsen was less understanding of the decision not to intervene over the challenge on Federico Valverde<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dean Huijsen looks back on his red card vs Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand it, to be honest. I don\u2019t know why it didn\u2019t come into play. It might have been a mistake by the referee, human error, but what\u2019s the point of VAR then?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He also questioned whether players are effectively rewarded for exaggerating incidents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a shame because, ultimately, you have VAR precisely to avoid the theatrics \u2013 players rolling around on the ground.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAs Fede didn\u2019t stay down acting for five minutes, he wasn\u2019t shown a red card. But VAR should have known that anyway.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Despite Real Madrid falling six points behind Barcelona, Huijsen does not believe the title race is over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNo. I think it\u2019s down to us. We\u2019ll see how things go.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He pointed to last season as evidence that the situation can change quickly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThat they should look at last year. We were seven points clear after El Cl\u00e1sico, and look how the league ended.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere\u2019s still everything to play for. We\u2019ve got things to improve on \u2013 we know that too \u2013 and we\u2019ve got to pull together as a team and see this through.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Even with a visit to Camp Nou still to come, his message remained the same.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe have to go there to win, obviously, but in any case, football changes very quickly. There are 31 matches left. There\u2019s still a long way to go.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Huijsen also acknowledged Barcelona\u2019s current strength.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYes, I think so. I don\u2019t watch many of their matches, but it certainly seems that way.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dean Huijsen has addressed the Ceuta controversy. (Picture credit: Real Madrid official website)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The centre-back believes Mourinho\u2019s high demands are helping him develop physically and tactically<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think he knows what I\u2019m capable of and demands a lot from me. This summer I\u2019ve trained hard physically to be in good shape, and so far I feel good.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI\u2019ve said it in other interviews: they really push me hard and that\u2019s good for me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nHuijsen accepts responsibility but questions VAR<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/picture><\/div>\nHuijsen refuses to give up on La Liga<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Mourinho demands more from Huijsen<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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