Jose Mourinho has come to the defence of Real Madrid attackers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. after both were subjected to boos from the home crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu this week.
Mbappe netted the opener in Real Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan, lifting them to joint fifth on the competition’s all-time scoring charts. Yet the Frenchman and Vinicius both heard jeers from the home fans.
The duo have been criticised for their defensive contributions, but Mourinho feels the scrutiny they face stems from their importance and accomplishments for the club.
Mourinho supports Vinicius Jr. after the boos
Mourinho invoked a Portuguese saying about throwing stones at trees that bear fruit to explain why Vinicius draws criticism. The former Real Madrid boss pointed to the Brazilian’s achievements in recent years, including his Champions League triumph, goals, and efforts to win possession.
He also emphasised Vinicius’ statistics, saying the numbers indicate the winger is nearing his peak. Mourinho observed that the Brazilian has already broken records and believes his best form will arrive very soon.
For Mourinho, Vinicius’ record speaks for itself and explains why he remains such a prominent target for attention. The Portuguese manager’s remarks came after the winger was jeered by supporters at the Bernabeu.
Mbappe and Real Madrid still have backing
Mourinho offered a similar defence of Mbappe, again citing the proverb about a tree producing abundant fruit. The Frenchman scored 42 goals in 44 games for Real Madrid last season and is among the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Mourinho contended that a player who scores more than 40 goals for a team cannot be seen as a problem. He also commended Mbappe’s work off the ball, saying he saw the forward giving everything and defending intensely even when he had little energy left.
The former manager described Mbappe’s attitude as incredible and said it was a joy to watch a player performing at that level. His comments came despite Real Madrid finishing last season without a trophy.
Real Madrid fans and Ballon d’Or pressure
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague suggested the lack of trophies could be one reason behind the reaction from Real Madrid supporters. He said there was also a sense that the club’s two main stars are not especially popular with the fans.
Balague described Mbappe as sometimes appearing cold and likened his manner to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, while also noting that the Frenchman had previously turned down Real Madrid three times. At the same time, Balague stressed that without Mbappe’s goals, the club would be in a very different position.
Vinicius has also struggled to win complete approval from the supporters despite working hard without the ball and renewing his contract. Balague called the situation something of a mystery and said the Brazilian is feeling the pressure from the fans.