Jose Mourinho has come to the defense of Vinicius Jr, insisting the Brazilian winger is being unfairly targeted by opponents who deliberately seek to provoke him during matches.
Speaking after his first competitive game back in charge of Real Madrid, Mourinho suggested that rival players consistently try to draw a reaction from Vinicius Jr from the earliest moments of a match, a pattern he says has become common across the league.
"It's frustrating for him. He needs to have great emotional control," Mourinho said, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation his player faces on a regular basis.
The comments came after Vinicius Jr picked up a yellow card during the match, an incident that prompted Mourinho to address the issue directly with his player at halftime. According to the manager, he gave the winger specific advice about tempering his reactions, particularly when it comes to celebrating goals, in order to avoid further disciplinary trouble.
"I spoke to him at half-time, and I even told him in detail: 'If you score a goal, be careful how you celebrate it so I can keep you on the field.' It's tough," Mourinho revealed, highlighting the delicate balance between allowing a player to express himself and protecting him from suspension or further conflict.
Mourinho went further, framing the treatment of Vinicius Jr within a broader social context. He argued that while society has become increasingly conscious of bullying in various forms, the same level of protection has not extended to how Vinicius Jr is treated on the football pitch.
"We're in a social era of anti-bullying. With Vini Jr, we're still in the bullying era, whether it's from opponents or the crowd," the Portuguese coach said, pointing to hostility coming not only from defenders but also from supporters in stadiums across the competition.
Mourinho stressed that addressing this issue requires a dual approach, one that involves shielding the player from unnecessary provocation while also helping him develop the tools to manage his emotions more effectively in high-pressure moments.
"We need to educate him as much as possible and prepare him as much as possible. And that's it," he added, signaling that this will be an ongoing process rather than a quick fix.
Vinicius Jr has long been a target for opposition defenders and, at times, hostile crowds, with incidents of alleged racial abuse and rough treatment on the pitch drawing significant attention in recent seasons. His combination of pace, skill, and confidence has made him one of the most closely marked players in Spanish football, often resulting in cynical fouls and attempts to unsettle him mentally.
Mourinho's return to Real Madrid brings with it a renewed focus on man-management, and his comments suggest that helping Vinicius Jr navigate these pressures will be a priority during his tenure. The manager appears keen to strike a balance between protecting his player publicly and privately coaching him on how to respond to provocation without risking suspensions or disciplinary action that could hurt the team.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Vinicius Jr can channel Mourinho's advice into more composed performances, while opponents and pundits alike continue to debate the treatment he receives from rivals and spectators across the league.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.