Real Madrid manager José Mourinho strongly defended Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, insisting that surrounding criticism does not diminish their immense value to the club’s project.
The Portuguese manager addressed the media ahead of their upcoming La Liga clash against Rayo Vallecano, following a mixed reception at the Santiago Bernabéu despite a 2-1 Champions League victory over Inter Milan.
Mourinho Defends Vinícius Júnior
Mourinho invoked a traditional Portuguese proverb to address the crowd’s reaction: “Stones are only thrown at fruitful trees.” He elaborated: “What has Vinícius achieved here? How many Champions League titles has he won, and how many key goals has he scored? His absolute best version is coming.”
Regarding the Brazilian winger’s physical condition, Mourinho added: “He is extremely close to his peak speed and has broken his own records in high-intensity sprints and ball recoveries, including turnovers won in the final third.”
Addressing the supporters’ whistles, the manager noted: “It makes me sad, because I deeply respect a player who gives everything and honors the club’s badge,” emphasizing that Vinícius will always have his full backing, regardless of starting lineups.
“Mbappé is Never a Problem for Real Madrid”
Turning his focus to Mbappé, Mourinho applied the same principle: “He is a tree loaded with fruit. A player who scores 40 goals a season can never be considered a problem for his team.”
The Portuguese strategist praised the French forward’s work rate against Inter, highlighting how he tracked back defensively during the closing minutes under extreme exhaustion. Challenging team critics, Mourinho remarked: “They say we could have conceded four goals, but we also could have scored eight,” questioning whether detractors were simply unhappy with the victory.
Messages Ahead of Rayo Vallecano
Mourinho also backed the Santiago Bernabéu as the ideal venue for the 2030 World Cup final, describing it as a legendary stadium that hosted footballing icons and represents the most important club in history.
Looking ahead to the squad rotation against Rayo Vallecano, Mourinho hinted at introducing “fresh legs with fuel in the tank,” welcomingEduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, and Arda Güler back into contention while maintaining that securing three points remains the sole priority.
