Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says Vinicius Jr must show “great emotional control” after claiming the winger is being bullied by opponents and supporters.
Mourinho’s comments followed Vinicius Jr’s booking in Real Madrid’s 2-1 La Liga opening victory over Espanyol. The Brazil international was shown a yellow card during the first half after becoming involved in an argument with midfielder Cala.
The 63-year-old Portuguese coach says Vinicius Jr is being deliberately provoked by opposing players who are attempting to draw a reaction from him from the opening minute of matches.
Mourinho believes that approach is repeated by every team the winger faces, while acknowledging the player must also manage his own response.
“It’s frustrating for him. He needs to have great emotional control,” he said.
Vinicius Jr has faced regular abuse during his eight years at Real Madrid. One such incident occurred on a night when Mourinho was in the Benfica dugout and Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing the Brazilian. The Argentine denied the allegation.
Mourinho accepted that remarks he made when he previously opposed Vinicius Jr could be revisited now that the forward is playing under his management.
“I run the risk of you going back months and pulling out my words when I was an opponent of Vini Jr,” said Mourinho.
“Now Vini Jr is mine. Vini Jr is not a saint, but what they do to him is too much.”
The booking came in Mourinho’s first competitive match of his second spell in charge of Real Madrid. At half-time, the manager spoke to Vinicius Jr about how his conduct could influence the reaction from spectators as well as opponents.
Mourinho even warned the winger to think carefully about how he would celebrate if he scored, because another provocative moment could risk him being sent off or removed from the match.
“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,” he said.
The Real Madrid manager compared the treatment of Vinicius Jr with the wider focus on preventing bullying in society.
“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.
“We need to educate him as much as possible and prepare him as much as possible. And that’s it.”
Mourinho said Vinicius Jr was not blameless, but maintained that the level of treatment directed at the winger had gone too far. His immediate task is to help the player cope with the pressure and provocation while ensuring his reactions do not undermine his contribution to Real Madrid.
