José Mourinho defends Vinícius Júnior amid Real Madrid struggles

Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has publicly defended Vinícius Júnior amid a period of poor form and criticism from fans. Ahead of the match against Villarreal, Mourinho expressed his distress regarding the treatment the Brazilian attacker has received, stating, “It breaks my heart to see that a boy like this... is not receiving the support he deserves.”

Mourinho emphasized that Vinícius is working incredibly hard to return to his peak level and remains a fundamental part of the team's offensive strategy. Despite the player's recent statistics—one goal and three assists in eight matches—the coach maintains his confidence in the player's ability to make a difference.

In the same press conference, Mourinho addressed rumors regarding Kylian Mbappé, dismissing speculation about his private life as “ridiculous” and noting that the player had simply sought a second opinion regarding a minor physical issue. The club continues to navigate a challenging period in La Liga, currently sitting in fourth place.