Mourinho believes Vinícius suffers bullying: 'We are not in the anti-bullying era with him'

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has strongly defended his player Vinícius Júnior, asserting that the Brazilian is a victim of excessive provocation and bullying. Mourinho, who previously had a critical stance towards Vinícius when managing Benfica, stated, "Now he is mine. He is not a saint, but they do too much to him."

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Now he is mine. He is not a saint, but they do too much to him.

Mourinho elaborated on his view, suggesting that Vinícius is "formatted (programmed)" to react to the constant pressure and fouls he endures. He believes this creates frustration for the player and emphasized the need for emotional control, advising Vinícius to be mindful of how he celebrates goals. "We live in a social era of anti-bullying, with Vini we are not there," Mourinho remarked, drawing a contrast between societal norms and the treatment Vinícius receives.

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I think he is formatted (programmed). He must have emotional control.

During the match against Espanyol, Vinícius was indeed the most fouled player, receiving eight fouls. He was booked for an altercation and could have received a second yellow. Espanyol's coach, Manolo González, acknowledged the fouls but downplayed their severity, comparing them to less severe challenges than those seen in Maradona's era. González also voiced complaints about the referee's inconsistent application of rules.

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We live in a social era of anti-bullying, with Vini we are not there.

Mourinho also reflected on his team's performance, acknowledging that while Real Madrid deserved to win, Espanyol did not deserve to lose. He noted his team's limited training time, which affected their intensity and fitness. "We need minutes and kilometers to press like this," he stated, valuing the victory despite the team not yet being at peak physical condition.

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I have clear that this type of game if you stay with ten men it gets triple complicated, that's why I did them, I didn't trust.