Jose Mourinho has defended his decision to substitute Vinicius Jr. during Real Madrid’s 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig, insisting the change was about exploiting the squad’s pace.
Speaking after Real Madrid secured their third win in the competition, the manager also praised Arda Guler, Federico Valverde and Brahim Diaz while expressing frustration over the goal conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
With Barcelona next on the domestic schedule, Mourinho faces the challenge of balancing squad management with the need to maintain Real Madrid’s momentum.
His post-match comments suggested that the Clasico is on his mind, but not at the expense of decisions he believes are right for the team in front of him.
Mourinho backs Vinicius decision after Real Madrid beat Leipzig
Vinicius was replaced by Diomande late in the match, prompting questions about whether Mourinho was already managing his forward’s workload.
The manager rejected that interpretation, highlighting the value of introducing fresh pace against tiring opponents and praising Vinicius for his defensive contribution.
Yan Diomande scored against RB Leipzig (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
“The intention behind bringing on Diomande wasn’t to think about El Clasico; it was to think about this squad and to know that we had a squad with plenty of pace.
“A fresh Diomande, brought on with 20–30 seconds to go, is hard to stop. Vini played a good game tactically for his manager.
“Vini defended very well. Then he had a chance to score a brilliant goal, but the goalkeeper made a great save. Only he can say whether he feels disappointed, but his manager is pleased.”
Asked whether Vinicius appeared unhappy, Mourinho declined to speculate about the forward’s private feelings.
“Sad… whether he is or not is a very personal matter. I think you may have your own perception, but only he can say how he feels – or doesn’t feel. I’m pleased with the match he’s played.”
Guler, Valverde and Camavinga earn Mourinho’s trust
Mourinho also assessed the performances of Guler and Valverde, explaining that his relatively short time in charge meant he was still learning about his players through competitive matches.
He was encouraged by the effectiveness of Madrid’s right flank and the solutions available within the squad.
“I’ve been here for 105 days. That’s not long. I also need to get to know them, and the best way to do that is on the pitch and in competition.
Mourinho was full of praise for Arda Guler. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
“They played well. The right flank worked very well again. Solutions. Good solutions.”
Camavinga’s performance and the decision to make changes in midfield also featured in the discussion.
Mourinho acknowledged the risk involved in altering the team but emphasised the confidence he has in his options, singling out Brahim Diaz despite the forward not starting regularly.
“No, Camavinga had a great game. Obviously, Arda and Tchouameni did a great job in that area against Sevilla.
“As for me, by substituting both of them, if things had gone badly… (grimaces)… because I’d thought about El Clásico, I’d changed too much.
“But I had the confidence they give me every day. Another player who isn’t starting matches is Brahim Diaz, and I’m really impressed with him.”
Courtois and El Clasico preparation
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Mourinho was unhappy that Real Madrid conceded, arguing that Courtois had done enough to deserve a clean sheet after making two saves.
The manager also praised Bernardo Silva’s contribution, particularly given his lack of recent starts.
“Bernardo was one of those players who hadn’t started a match for a long time, but who also has the ability to make a difference. He’s had a great match. The team played well in the first half, but at a slow pace.
Bernardo Silva scored his first Real Madrid goal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“The only thing I didn’t like was the goal Courtois didn’t deserve. Given the two saves he made, he doesn’t deserve to have his teammates spoil his night.”
Real Madrid’s third Champions League victory leaves them on nine points, although Mourinho warned that direct qualification remains a more demanding target.
He also highlighted the difficult scheduling around the upcoming trip to Athens and the league fixture in Valencia.
“We have nine points. We’re close to the play-offs, but far from the 20 points needed for direct qualification.
“It’ll be a tough situation in Athens, because two days later we’ll be playing in Valencia. But first we’ve got the league and we’ve got Sunday’s match.”
Lastly, asked to rate his confidence before El Clásico, Mourinho resisted putting a number on his mindset and pointed instead to the limited recovery time available.
“There’s no such thing as confidence for the Clásico. It’s just another league match, but it’s not a match like any other.
“At the moment, we’re missing out on 24 hours’ rest, but here we go,” he concluded.
Source: AS