Jose Mourinho jumped to the defense of Vinicius Jr after the Real Madrid the winger was once again the subject of boos and boos from frustrated fans.
The Brazil international, who ended a lengthy contract standoff by signing a new six-year deal last month, has struggled to make an impact. Madrid beat Inter Milan 2-1 in a wild Champions League clash last nightfirst-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde proved enough despite Carlos Augusto’s reply.
Match statistics
Vinicius Jr was eventually taken off with three minutes remaining and the home fans were less than generous with his reception, but Mourinho insisted his best form would return.
“If he works for the team, he always has my support,” Mourinho said. “Does that mean you have to start every game? Does he have to play 90 minutes every game? No. But you will always have my respect and affection.
“And he has worked a lot for the team. Playing against a team that plays with its eyes closed, with three backs and that projects to the full-backs like they do… it is very difficult for the full-backs. His work and that of Brahim Díaz has been very good. Closing well inside and letting the full-backs press on the outside. He has done a very good job for the team.”
“Obviously, in one of those actions where he had a one-on-one on the left side, Vini who is full speed kills games. He kills them, like he killed me last year here, with Benfica. Then we were 1-1, in a very tight game. And he took a transition and finished the game. That’s what we expect from him, but he doesn’t have to give more. He doesn’t have to give more. And he’s given everything when he gives it everything, the coach is with him.
Diplomatic Mourinho refuses to criticize Real Madrid fans
Vinicius Jr’s relationship with the Madrid crowd has deteriorated over the past 12 months, but Mourinho refused to criticize supporters who voiced their irritation last night.
And he added: “I’m not criticizing the fans, I’m not talking about the fans. I’m talking as a coach and about my relationship with him: he deserves all my respect. He’s not at his best, I see it, we all see it. But he’s the first to know it. He’s working hard to be Vinicius who decides game after game.”
“But not being at his best, at the moment, he’s working harder than ever … whether it’s in training or in games. The few times he hasn’t been able to come back and defend with the block, it was because of fatigue. Because he’s done four, five, six sprints. And it’s not easy. It’s not easy. It’s not easy.
“I have a lot of respect for this Vinicius I have found. And it will come… the time will come when he decides the games. And he wins them.”
Courtois saves Real Madrid
Madrid were lucky to come away with the three points and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to make a series of brilliant saves to preserve their advantage.
“The bottom line is it could have ended 5-1 or 6-1 for us or it could have ended 6-6,” Mourinho said. “I don’t want to say that Inter could have won the game, because we created more and at crucial moments, like the (possible) 3-0 at the last moment of the first half or Jude Bellingham’s at the start of the second.
“But, crazy game. Crazy game that I don’t like. I don’t like it. I like it a lot more to be able to score five, six or seven but be in absolute control and not need an absolutely incredible goalkeeper.”
“And I can’t isolate my words from the context that we’re playing against a great team. Great team. With a thousand options. They made changes and I couldn’t make the changes I wanted in the middle of the field. I couldn’t make the changes I wanted.”
“It was a very tough game, with three very important points. There are three more to qualify. I am absolutely convinced that we will do it. But getting those three points the first time is important.”
Next up for Madrid is a home game with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday before two more La Liga games before the international break – at Elche and then the first derby of the season at home to Atlético on September 20.
