José Mourinho has once again come to the defence of Vinícius Júnior. The Special One was well aware that the Brazilian was booed when he was substituted during the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan, and pointed to a record the winger holds.
Mourinho defends Vinicius after Bernabeu whistles
José Mourinho has once again come to the defence of Vinícius Júnior after the Real Madrid forward was whistled by sections of the Santiago Bernabéu crowd during the Champions League victory over Inter Milan. The Brazilian was one of the players targeted by supporters during a difficult evening for the Spanish side, despite Real eventually securing a 2-1 win, and Mourinho used his press conference on Friday to make it clear that the criticism has not changed the confidence he has in the winger.
The relationship between Vinícius and the Real Madrid supporters has gone through several contrasting periods, with the Brazilian capable of producing decisive performances but also becoming one of the first players to hear the frustration of the Bernabéu when the team is struggling. That tension was visible again against Inter. Real Madrid won the game, but they did not have things entirely their own way, and both Vinícius and Kylian Mbappé were among those who heard whistles from the stands.
Mourinho had initially avoided becoming involved in the subject immediately after the match. By Friday, however, the Portuguese coach was prepared to address it in much greater detail, defending Vinícius while also recognising that supporters have the right to express their dissatisfaction. His message was that criticism is part of representing a club of Real Madrid stature, but that the contribution of a player should not be forgotten simply because he is going through a period below his very best level.
“You know, there is a kind of saying in Portugal: you only throw stones at trees that bear fruit,” Mourinho said, using the Portuguese expression to explain why the most important players often attract the greatest scrutiny.
Mourinho refuses to lose faith in Vinicius
Mourinho acknowledged that Vinícius is still searching for his best form, but there was no suggestion that the coach has lost confidence in him. Instead, he pointed to what the Brazilian has already achieved at Real Madrid and the number of occasions on which he has been decisive for the club.
“What has Vinícius achieved here? How many Champions League titles has he won? How many goals has he scored? How many matches has he decided?” Mourinho asked. “The Vinícius who decided the match against Benfica almost on his own last year is coming back.”
The reference was intended to remind supporters of the level Vinícius has shown in major matches and why Mourinho believes patience is required. For the coach, a difficult period does not erase what the player has previously delivered, nor does it mean that he is incapable of returning to that level.
Vinícius has spent much of his Real Madrid career playing under enormous pressure, with every performance judged not only by whether the team wins but also by whether he produces the goals, assists and moments of individual quality expected from one of the highest-profile players in the squad. Mourinho appears to view that scrutiny as inevitable, but he does not believe it should become a reason to abandon a player who continues to work for the team.
Effort matters as much as current form
That was the other part of Mourinho defence. His support for Vinícius was not based only on what the forward has achieved in previous seasons. The Portuguese coach also stressed that the Brazilian continues to show commitment even when his individual performances are not reaching the level expected of him.
“I respect the player who gives everything,” Mourinho said. “He wanted to play, he wanted to help, he played for the team, he played with respect for the club badge. This type of player will always have me on his side. That does not mean he will always play, but it does mean he will always have me on his side.”
That distinction was significant. Mourinho was not promising Vinícius a permanent place in the starting line-up, nor was he suggesting that performances no longer matter. Instead, he was making clear that commitment guarantees the player his support even when competition for places or tactical decisions lead to changes in the team.
For Mourinho, the attitude of a player during a difficult moment appears to be particularly important. A footballer struggling for form but continuing to work for the group will receive patience. The coach suggested that Vinícius falls firmly into that category, describing him as someone who wanted to contribute against Inter and who continued to put the interests of the team first.
Bernabeu reaction leaves Mourinho disappointed
The whistles themselves clearly affected Mourinho. Real Madrid supporters are famous for demanding the highest possible standards and have historically shown little hesitation in expressing dissatisfaction with even the biggest names to represent the club. Mourinho said he understands that right, but admitted that seeing the crowd turn against its own players still makes him uncomfortable.
“It makes me sad, but I do not want to judge or criticise,” he said. “In my experience, and not only at Real Madrid, when a team is united with the stadium... I do not want to say it is unbeatable, but it is almost unbeatable.”
The Portuguese coach therefore stopped short of criticising the Bernabéu crowd. He accepts that supporters have their own expectations and that paying fans are entitled to react to what they see. At the same time, he believes the strongest version of any team appears when the players and the stadium are moving in the same direction.
That unity becomes particularly important during difficult phases of matches. A home crowd can increase pressure on the opposition, help players respond after conceding and create an atmosphere in which momentum begins to shift. Mourinho believes the opposite can also happen when frustration from the stands is directed towards the home team.
His comments suggested he would prefer supporters to help players through difficult moments rather than increase the pressure on them, even if he understands why the expectations surrounding Real Madrid make that relationship complicated.
Mourinho points to remarkable home record
To underline his argument about the importance of the relationship between a team and its supporters, Mourinho referred to one of the most remarkable records of his coaching career. Between 2002 and 2011, across spells with FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, teams coached by Mourinho went 150 consecutive league matches at home without defeat.
The run lasted across four different clubs, countries and competitions and became one of the defining statistics associated with Mourinho career. He referred to the record during Friday press conference as evidence of how powerful a team can become when it feels completely comfortable and supported in its own stadium.
“When the team and the stadium work together, you are unbeatable,” Mourinho said. “But every stadium also has the right to react at some point.”
That final sentence summarised the balance he was trying to maintain. Mourinho does not want to confront the Real Madrid supporters or tell them how they should behave. His preference, however, is clear: a united Bernabéu gives the team a greater chance of winning than a stadium in which players are fearful of making mistakes.
Pressure remains intense around Vinicius
For Vinícius, the challenge is therefore to respond on the pitch. Mourinho backing offers public protection, but the coach also made clear that support does not remove competition or guarantee minutes. The Brazilian must rediscover the level that made him one of Real Madrid most decisive attackers, particularly with expectations so high around the team.
The situation is made more demanding by the presence of Mbappé and other attacking options. Real Madrid supporters expect their leading forwards to decide matches, especially at the Bernabéu, and frustration can surface quickly when performances fall below that standard.
Against Inter, the whistles were not aimed exclusively at Vinícius. Mbappé also heard dissatisfaction from the stands as Real struggled for periods of the match. Mourinho therefore appears to view the incident as part of a wider issue rather than something specific to one player.
Nevertheless, the Brazilian remains a particularly visible figure. His style of play naturally places him at the centre of matches, and when he is not producing the dribbles, goals or decisive actions expected from him, the contrast becomes obvious. Mourinho response is to judge him not only on the final action but also on whether he continues contributing to the collective effort.
Real Madrid turn attention back to La Liga
After the Champions League victory over Inter, Real Madrid now return to domestic competition with another match at the Santiago Bernabéu. Rayo Vallecano visit on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00, giving Mourinho players an immediate opportunity to improve the mood around the team.
Rayo arrive after reaching the Conference League final last season and will face a Real Madrid side looking for a response in La Liga. Mourinho team lost their most recent league fixture against Real Betis, meaning the match carries additional importance beyond the debate surrounding Vinícius.
The Champions League win provided a positive result in midweek, but Mourinho will want his side to transfer that momentum into the league. Dropping further points immediately after the defeat to Betis would increase pressure, while a convincing victory could help restore confidence before the schedule becomes even more demanding.
Vinícius will inevitably remain one of the main players under observation. After Mourinho public defence, his performance against Rayo could become another important moment in the relationship between the Brazilian and the Bernabéu crowd.
Mourinho wants criticism to produce a response
Mourinho comments did not attempt to pretend that everything surrounding Vinícius is perfect. He openly admitted that the forward has not yet reached his best level and accepted that supporters have the right to demand improvement. What he rejected was the idea that a difficult period should overshadow everything the Brazilian has already done for the club.
That approach is consistent with the message he gave after the Inter match. Players at Real Madrid must live with pressure, but Mourinho wants that pressure to become motivation rather than something that divides the team and the stadium.
His Portuguese proverb provided the clearest summary of that position. Vinícius receives criticism precisely because expectations around him are so high. Players who have repeatedly been decisive naturally become the centre of attention when their level drops.
Mourinho believes the answer is not to protect Vinícius from all criticism but to support him while he works his way back to his best. As long as the Brazilian continues to give everything, respect the shirt and play for the team, the coach says he will remain firmly on his side.
Bernabeu unity remains Mourinho priority
The wider message was directed not just at Vinícius but at the relationship between Real Madrid and its supporters. Mourinho knows from experience how difficult the Bernabéu can be for opponents when the stadium is fully behind the team, and he wants to preserve that advantage.
His record of 150 consecutive unbeaten home league matches was presented as more than an individual achievement. Mourinho sees home strength as something created by players, coaching staff and supporters collectively, and he believes that connection can make a team extremely difficult to beat.
At the same time, he accepts that Real Madrid supporters will never stop demanding excellence. The expectation to win is part of the identity of the club, and whistles are not something that can simply be removed by a coach asking for patience.
The challenge for Mourinho is therefore to manage both sides of the relationship. He must demand more from his players while protecting them when he believes their commitment is beyond question. He must also recognise the frustration of the supporters without allowing that frustration to become damaging inside the squad.
For now, Vinícius has received an unequivocal message from his coach. Mourinho knows that the Brazilian is capable of playing better, but he also believes that the player who has decided major matches for Real Madrid is still there and will return. Saturday meeting with Rayo Vallecano offers the next opportunity for Vinícius to prove him right and, perhaps, begin turning the whistles back into applause.
