Mourinho criticized both opposing supporters and players for targeting the Brazilian winger with rough treatment from the opening minutes.
Mourinho Denounces Tactical Fouling and Fan Hostility
Real Madrid kicked off the 2026/27 La Liga campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 away win at Espanyol, but the post-match discussion centered on the treatment of Vinícius. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for the visitors before Espanyol’s Calatrava equalized.
Speaking at a press conference after the final whistle, Mourinho defended his forward while acknowledging the player’s fiery reputation.
“Vinicius is no saint, but what they’re doing to him was too much. Right from the first minute. It’s a pattern that repeats itself from one opponent to the next.”
José Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Mourinho elaborated on the physical tactics employed against the forward, describing an organized approach among opposing squads.
“I’ll give him one, now you give him one. If I get a yellow card, you give him one. If I’m substituted, another player comes on who hasn’t been booked yet, and you give him one.”
José Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Early Match Incidents and Refereeing Controversy
Tensions flared early in the match when Calatrava brought down Vinícius from behind inside the opening five minutes, appearing to make contact again while the forward was on the ground. Real Madrid players furiously appealed for a red card, but the referee took no disciplinary action against Calatrava at that moment. Later in the 32nd minute, the referee issued a yellow card to both Calatrava and Vinícius following another altercation.
On social media after the game, Vinícius reposted video footage of the challenge from Calatrava alongside a sarcastic caption. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, serving as one of Real Madrid’s captains, strongly backed his teammate when questioned about a social media post from Espanyol complaining about the officiating.
“Calatrava should have been sent off earlier, whether for the kick on Vini Jr. or the foul on Carreras when he was already on a yellow card. As for Espanyol’s tweet, you should look in the mirror before talking about others. It is easy to judge things only from your own point of view.”
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid goalkeeper
Navigating Provocation and Societal Standards
Mourinho emphasized that while Vinícius must maintain emotional discipline to avoid unnecessary bookings or retaliation, the broader environment surrounding the player requires intervention. The manager noted that he advises the winger to exercise caution regarding goal celebrations to minimize external friction.
“He needs to have a lot of emotional control. I’ve told him that if he scores a goal, he needs to be careful how he celebrates it. We’re in an era where society is against bullying, yet with Vini we’re still seeing bullying – from opponents and from the crowd. We have to educate him and prepare him as best we can, and that’s it.”
José Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
This friction carries recent history. Last season, during a Champions League fixture between Real Madrid and Benfica while Mourinho managed the Lisbon club, Vinícius was subjected to discriminatory conduct by Gianluca Prestianni. UEFA subsequently handed Prestianni a six-month suspension for homophobic abuse, though Mourinho faced heavy criticism at the time for defending Prestianni and arguing that Vinícius had incited the crowd.
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