BARCELONA, Spain — José Mourinho, returning as head coach of Real Madrid, has come to the defense of Vinícius Júnior, asserting that the Brazilian forward is subjected to undue harassment. This follows a heated encounter with Espanyol players and their fans during Madrid’s 2-1 victory in LaLiga on Saturday.
The match saw Jude Bellingham score a header to give Madrid the lead in the ninth minute at RCDE Stadium. However, Álex Calatrava equalized for the home team before the interval.
– Real Madrid strikes late, securing victory for José Mourinho’s return.
– José Mourinho: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham can coexist at Real Madrid.
– Yan Diomande: Didier Drogba advised me on working hard for José Mourinho at Real Madrid.
Despite pushing for a winner, Madrid had to wait until the dying moments of the match, when substitute Carlos Espí found the net with a clever finish from inside the six-yard box, securing all three points for Mourinho’s side.
Vinícius seemed to be fouled early in the game by Calatrava, yet no action was taken against the Espanyol player. He later received a yellow card following a dispute with the same player.
“Vini may not be perfect, but the treatment he receives is excessive,” Mourinho stated in the post-match conference. “From the very first minute, it was apparent. It follows a pattern, with one opponent after another saying, ‘I’ll foul him, then you foul him,’ and it continues on…”
“It’s frustrating for him. He needs to manage his emotions carefully. I mentioned to [Vini] that even in celebration of a goal, he should remain composed to avoid conflicts. It’s a challenging situation. We’re in a time that promotes anti-bullying, yet with Vini, we still face ongoing bullying, whether it’s from opponents or the crowd.”
In response to Mourinho’s remarks, Espanyol coach Manolo González commented, “Are we not allowed to touch him? This is football. I didn’t see any excessive challenges. The fouls he faced were normal; no one was singling him out.”
This victory marks Mourinho’s first game back in charge after his second appointment with Madrid, over 13 years after his initial term from 2010-2013, during which he won a LaLiga title and a Copa del Rey.
Mourinho also praised Bellingham, who had recently returned to preseason training following an impressive summer with England.
“When discussing the best players globally, Real Madrid boasts many, including these three [Bellingham, Vinícius, and Kylian Mbappé] who made a significant impact at the World Cup,” Mourinho expressed. “I was uncertain whether to start [Bellingham] or bring him on later.
“I’m not sure if starting him was the best decision, but he is strong both physically and mentally. This is his ideal role, where he connects well with the forwards and is capable of scoring. He should play close to the goal rather than in deeper positions, which would limit his scoring opportunities. I appreciate Jude’s abilities.”
Next, Madrid will host Real Sociedad on Wednesday for their first home match of the season at the Bernabéu.