By Adegboyega Adeleye
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho and forward Kylian Mbappé have defended Vinicius Júnior after the Brazilian was booed by home supporters during their 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
According to ESPN, Vinícius was substituted in the 70th minute of Wednesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu, having gone nine consecutive games without scoring for Los Blancos.
Mourinho acknowledged the emotional impact of being booed by one’s own supporters, contrasting it with the motivation players sometimes draw from criticism by opposing fans.
“When you are on the pitch and you are whistled when playing away, often it’s a boost to your motivation. When it’s at home, it hurts,” Mourinho said.
Despite the criticism, the Portuguese coach praised Vinícius’ contribution to the team, highlighting his defensive work and overall performance.
“Only he can say whether he feels sad, but I am pleased,” Mourinho said.
“Vini put in a good tactical performance. Vini defended very well. He then had a chance to score a brilliant goal, but the goalkeeper made a great save.”
Vinicius has managed just one goal and three assists in 11 appearances this season. He also missed the weekend’s LaLiga fixture while serving the first match of a four-game suspension.
Mourinho also urged the Brazilian to remain focused on improving his fitness and form during the period he will be unavailable for domestic league action.
“Work, work. He cannot play but he can work his physique with an individualised plan,” he said, adding that he was satisfied with the forward’s performance against Leipzig despite his failure to score.
Mbappé, who was named player of the match after providing an assist for Madrid’s second goal and scoring their third, also backed his teammate to rediscover his best form.
The French forward said Vinícius’ frustration reflected his desire to contribute more to the team and satisfy the club’s supporters.
“He’s doing well. It’s good that he’s upset because it means he wants to give a lot to the team and the fans,” Mbappé said.
“I think he just needs to stay calm and proud of who he is. A great player must always take pride in who they are and gain confidence because the quality is there.”
Vinícius, meanwhile, appeared to respond to the criticism in a social media post after the match, writing: “Living in the moment. Everything passes,” alongside a winking emoji.
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