Mourinho on Vinícius: 'He's no saint, but the bullying he faces is unjustified'

Real Madrid kicked off their new Jose Mourinho era with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Espanyol, securing the win with a dramatic 90th-minute goal.

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He is no saint, but what they are doing to him is too much.

Following the match, Mourinho spoke to reporters, addressing the performance and specifically the situation surrounding Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior. When asked if his opinion of the player had changed since his return to Madrid, Mourinho acknowledged that Vinícius still has areas to improve.

However, the "Special One" strongly condemned the treatment the 25-year-old receives, stating, "He is no saint, but what they are doing to him is too much." Mourinho suggested there is a deliberate "agenda" against the player, noting a recurring pattern of fouls and aggressive marking from opponents regardless of who is playing.

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From the first minute, there is a pattern that repeats from opponent to opponent. I foul him, you foul him. If I get a yellow card, you foul him. If I am substituted, someone else comes in without a card and continues to mark him illegally.

Mourinho revealed he had spoken personally with Vinícius, advising him to be more mindful of how he celebrates goals. "We live in an era where we constantly talk about combating bullying, and in Vini's case, we continue to see bullying, both from opponents and fans," Mourinho stated. He emphasized the need to educate and prepare the player as best as possible to handle the intense pressure and scrutiny.

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He must have great emotional control. I have told him that if he scores, he must be careful with the way he celebrates. We live in an era where we constantly talk about combating bullying, and in Vini's case, we continue to see bullying, both from opponents and fans. We must educate him and prepare him as best as possible. That is all.