José Mourinho Defends Vinícius Júnior After Real Madrid Fans Whistle Him

• José Mourinho said whistles from home fans “hurt” after Vinícius Júnior was jeered at the Bernabéu in Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.
• Vinícius has gone nine games without a goal and has one goal and three assists in 11 appearances this season.
• Kylian Mbappé said it is “good that he’s upset”, a sign that Vinícius wants to give a lot to the team and the fans.

Work, Work: Mourinho’s Plan for a Winger Who Cannot Play

José Mourinho says whistles from your own supporters hurt in a way that jeers away from home do not. Vinícius Júnior drew them from the Bernabéu crowd in Wednesday’s win over RB Leipzig, and the Real Madrid coach was asked about it afterwards. “When you are on the pitch and you are whistled when playing away, often it’s a boost to your motivation,” Mourinho said. “When it’s at home, it hurts.”

Vinícius has not scored in his last nine games for Real Madrid and was substituted in the second half against Leipzig. He served the first match of a four-game La Liga suspension at the weekend, and ESPN reports he will not play for the next 14 days with the league suspension in force. He stays available for Champions League matches.

After the final whistle, Vinícius posted a message on social media: “Living in the moment. Everything passes,” followed by a winking emoji.

What Mourinho Said About the Performance

Asked how his forward feels, Mourinho gave a short answer. “Only he can say whether he feels sad, but I am pleased,” he said. “Vini put in a good tactical performance. Vini defended very well. He then had a chance to score a brilliant goal, but the goalkeeper made a great save.”

Speaking to TNT Sports Brazil, Mourinho was asked how Vinícius can find his best form when the suspension keeps him out of league action. “Work, work. He cannot play but he can work his physique with an individualised plan,” he said. “But I was happy with his performance. Ok, he didn’t score, he wasn’t man of the match but he had a good game for the team.”

Mbappé Steps In

Mbappé was named MVP of the Leipzig game after setting up Real’s second goal and scoring the third. He backed his teammate. “He’s doing well,” the France forward said. “It’s good that he’s upset because it means he wants to give a lot to the team and the fans.”

Mbappé added that Vinícius “just needs to stay calm” and that the quality is there. In his words, a great player gains confidence by remembering who they are.

A Front Line Without Vinícius

The suspension hands Mourinho a selection puzzle, and BBC Sport reports that the coach has made clear no player is “untouchable”. In the 4-1 win over Sevilla last weekend, Real lined up with Mbappé through the middle, Endrick on the right and Yan Diomande on the left, with Jude Bellingham in midfield.

Diomande replaced Vinícius against Leipzig and scored a volley for Real’s fourth goal. The winger joined from RB Leipzig for a reported 150m euros, and BBC Sport says he has three goals and four assists after starting five of Real’s last six matches. Mourinho said of him: “He has a lot to improve, but he’s had a great game.”

Diomande now faces three La Liga matches without direct competition from the Brazilian, starting with El Clásico against Barcelona on Sunday. BBC Sport also highlights Carlos Espi, who has scored three goals in only 37 minutes of football this season, and Endrick as options.

Mourinho wants Vinícius working. Mbappé wants him calm. The next league game he can play in is two weeks away.

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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