Mourinho believes Vinícius suffers bullying: 'With him, we are not in the anti-bullying era'

José Mourinho began his second stint in La Liga with a subdued presence, a stark contrast to his famously volatile sideline persona during his first spell at Real Madrid. While his counterpart Manolo González was animated, Mourinho remained largely seated, offering only occasional, quiet instructions. His calm demeanor extended to celebrating his team's first goal, a muted affair with his assistants.

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

However, the match spotlight quickly shifted to Vinícius Júnior. Despite a new look after cosmetic surgery, the Brazilian's on-field behavior remained unchanged. A minor scuffle with an opponent led to him confronting the crowd, who responded with chants. He later received a yellow card for pushing an opponent, further fueling the crowd's reaction. Mourinho attempted to intervene with officials, but his usual fervor seemed absent.

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I will go back months when I was an adversary of Vinícius (with Benfica I said that only he is whistled at in stadiums, why is that?). Now he is mine. He is not a saint, but they do too much to him.

Vinícius's performance on the ball also mirrored his previous season. He frequently fell to the ground after challenges, sometimes legitimately, sometimes not. His pressing lacked intensity, and his decision-making in the opponent's box was poor, suggesting his recent lucrative contract renewal had not yet spurred him to greater heights.

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I think he is formatted (programmed). I give him, then you, if I have a yellow he gives another, I go out... And it is a frustration for him. He must have emotional control.

Mourinho later addressed Vinícius's behavior, stating, "We live in a social era of anti-bullying, with Vini we are not there." He acknowledged that while Vinícius is "not a saint," he is subjected to excessive provocation. The manager also noted that his team is still building fitness after a short training period, impacting their ability to play with high intensity.

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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.