Mourinho Backs Vinicius and Mbappe After Bernabeu Whistles

Jose Mourinho has defended Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe after sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd whistled the two forwards during Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Inter Milan.

Madrid return to Liga action at home to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, seeking a response after a fluctuating sequence that included a league defeat to Real Betis before the difficult European victory over Inter.

Quick facts

• Real Madrid host Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
• The match follows a Liga loss to Real Betis and a Champions League win against Inter Milan.
• Vinicius and Mbappe were whistled by parts of the home support during the Inter match.
• Mourinho praised Mbappe’s late defensive work while Madrid were reduced to 10 players.

Mourinho said the reaction towards Vinicius reflected the level of expectation around a player who has delivered major moments for the club. Using a Portuguese saying, he argued that supporters only target those capable of producing something valuable.

“People throw stones at fruit-bearing trees,” Mourinho said. He pointed to Vinicius’ recent years in Madrid, including his Champions League successes and goals, and said the demand from the stands came because supporters wanted the Brazilian at his best.

The Madrid coach applied the same reasoning to Mbappe, while also singling out the France forward’s contribution without the ball against Inter. Mourinho recalled the closing stages, when his side played the final two minutes with 10 men.

Mbappe had moved to the left side and helped cover for Marc Cucurella, who Mourinho said was exhausted. The coach said Mbappe was also spent but continued to protect the flank under repeated instructions from the technical area.

“He defended the left wing like an animal,” Mourinho said of the forward’s late work. “There are things that I see and value enormously.”

Mourinho accepted that whistles for Madrid players are disappointing, but insisted he will protect anyone who commits fully to the team. He referred to Dean Huijsen’s previous description of him as a demanding manager and said the assessment was fair.

The Portuguese coach said players are expected to give all they have, but cannot be asked for more once they have done so. Mistakes do not change that backing, he added, and a united relationship between the side and the stadium makes Madrid “almost unbeatable”.

Attention now turns to Rayo, with Mourinho determined to keep his players clear of the noise surrounding the Inter match. He receives media summaries from the club’s press department, but said criticism and crowd reaction will not shift the group’s focus as they pursue three Liga points.