Mourinho Defends Vinícius and Mbappé Against Stadium Jeers

The floodlights at the Santiago Bernabéu carved sharp shadows across the pitch, yet the atmosphere remained jagged. Real Madrid held a 2-1 lead, but the roar of the crowd had curdled into a low, persistent hiss directed at Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. The win over Inter Milan was tactically sound, with Federico Valverde extending the lead and Carlos Augusto offering a late glimmer for the visitors, but the emotional disconnect between the players and the stands left a bitter residue. It was a victory on the scoreboard, but a fracture in the loyalty that usually binds club and player.

José Mourinho, watching from the sidelines of his new project, did not flinch from the controversy. Speaking to BBC Sport, he invoked a Portuguese proverb to frame the situation: one only throws stones at trees that bear fruit. For Mourinho, the booing was not a sign of failure, but a testament to the sheer volume of success these two players have delivered. He sees the criticism as a digital-era reflex, a desire to claim a piece of excellence rather than a genuine rejection of talent. The narrative shifts from failure to abundance, a subtle but powerful reframing of the season's early turbulence.

The Tree Bearing Heavy Fruit

Mourinho’s defense is rooted in cold, hard data, filtered through a poetic lens. He points to Vinícius’s recent years, citing the Champions League titles and goals that have piled up like fruit on a bountiful branch. The manager argues that in an age of accessible statistics, the trajectory is clear: Vinícius is edging closer to his peak version. The records already set suggest that the best is not a memory, but an imminent arrival. This perspective strips away the emotional noise of the stands, replacing it with a logical assessment of a player in prime form.

The same logic applies to Mbappé, whose five goals in five games have made him a focal point of the attack. Mourinho recalls seeing the Frenchman defend with a ferocity that defied his role, running until his legs gave out. It is a reminder that star status does not exempt one from the grind of the game. The manager’s praise is specific, highlighting attitude and work rate over mere output. This holistic view of performance serves as a counter-narrative to the superficial judgments often made by a distracted crowd.

A Drought and A New Hope

The stakes extend beyond individual accolades. Real Madrid is navigating a strange period where silverware feels distant, their last trophy arriving in December 2024 with the Intercontinental Cup. Now, the pressure mounts to break a long drought and chase a record-extending 16th Champions League title. For Mourinho, this is not just another match; it is a chance to add a third European crown to his personal collection, following his wins with Porto and Inter. The weight of history sits heavily on these shoulders, making the current support from a former rival all the more poignant.

The Road to Rome Awaits

The immediate future offers a pause, with an international break looming before the next big test. On October 14, Madrid will travel to face AS Roma, another of Mourinho’s former clubs. The journey will be long, and the expectations will be high. The booing in Madrid will likely fade into memory, replaced by the tactical chess match against the Giallorossi. For now, the players have the backing of a manager who sees their value clearly, even when the crowd does not.