Jose Mourinho Defends Vinicius Junior After Whistles at Bernabeu During Real Madrid’s Champions League Win
Jose Mourinho stood up for Vinicius Junior after the Real Madrid forward faced boos from the home crowd during a narrow 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Brazilian winger was substituted late in the match, with fans showing their displeasure after a subdued performance.
Madrid Edges Out Inter as Fans Grow Restless
Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde scored to give Real Madrid their first victory of the group stage. Yet, despite the win, the atmosphere turned sour when Vinicius was taken off in the 87th minute, greeted by whistles from supporters frustrated by his lack of impact against Inter’s sturdy defense.
Mourinho Highlights Vinicius’ Effort and Fatigue
After the match, Mourinho admitted that Vinicius is not performing at his usual level but emphasized the player’s hard work and defensive contributions. The manager attributed some of Vinicius’ struggles to fatigue late in the game.
"He isn’t at his best, and he knows it," Mourinho said. "But he’s working hard to be the Vinicius who decides games. Without being at his best, he’s working harder than ever. When he couldn’t drop back to defend, it was because of tiredness. I respect that a lot. The time will come when he decides and wins us games."
The coach also pointed out the difficulty of facing a team like Inter that uses wing-backs, making life tough for wingers.
"If he keeps working, he’ll always have my support," Mourinho added. "He worked very hard for the team. Playing against three at the back with wing-backs is tough for wingers. With the one-on-ones he had on the left wing, if he was at his best, he’d kill the game. That’s what we expect. But he gave everything."
Challenges Mount for Vinicius in Madrid
This recent episode adds to a challenging spell for Vinicius. Following a tough 2025-26 season filled with criticism from fans, he renewed his commitment to Real Madrid this summer. Still, his start to the new campaign has been slow by his own high standards, recording only one goal and two assists in five appearances so far.
Squad Issues Force Mourinho’s Tactical Adjustments
The match against Inter exposed some squad difficulties as well. With suspensions sidelining Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, and Eduardo Camavinga, Mourinho had to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold out of position in central midfield. Mourinho praised Trent’s effort despite the physical challenge.
"It’s hard for Trent," Mourinho said. "I appreciate the effort he made, but the physical demands of playing full-back or central midfield are very different. He lost possession a few times because playing with the whole field ahead isn’t the same as having half the field behind you. He has experience there with Liverpool and England, but it’s still completely different. He didn’t have more to give."
Vinicius Looks to Regain Bernabeu’s Support
Vinicius faces a tough road ahead to win back the demanding Real Madrid fans. The team will return to domestic action with a Madrid derby against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday, giving the Brazilian a chance to respond directly on home turf. Afterward, European fixtures pause for the international break before Madrid heads to Rome to face Serie A side Roma. Mourinho will meet another of his former clubs as he aims to build on the promising start against Inter.
Upcoming Matches:
- 12 Sept 2026, 21:00: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)
- 14 Sept 2026, 20:45: Udinese vs Inter (Serie A)
