"Vinicius is not a saint" — Mourinho shocks with statement about the Brazilian. VIDEO
José Mourinho has unexpectedly come to Vinicius Junior's defence after a bruising night against Espanyol.
Details: After Real Madrid's 2-1 LaLiga victory over Espanyol, Mourinho admitted that he had previously criticised the Brazilian when facing him as an opponent, but now sees the situation differently. The Portuguese coach stressed that Vinicius is "not a saint", yet believes the treatment the winger receives from opponents and supporters goes far beyond acceptable limits.
Mourinho said he sees a recurring pattern in the way teams deal with Vinicius. According to the coach, opponents take turns fouling the winger, with one player stepping in after another has already received a yellow card, allowing the physical pressure to continue throughout the match.
The Portuguese also focused on Vinicius' emotional control. Mourinho revealed that he spoke to the winger at half-time and even warned him to be careful with his celebrations if he scored. He added that society speaks constantly about fighting bullying, while Vinicius, in his view, continues to face it both from rival players and from the stands.
It is worth noting that on August 6 Real Madrid officially announced a new contract for Vinicius through June 30, 2032. At the time of the announcement, the Brazilian had made 375 appearances for the club, scored 128 goals and won 14 trophies.
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Steven Perez
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