Jose Mourinho won’t allow Brazilian superstar to harm Real Madrid’s interests | OneFootball

One of the biggest issues at Real Madrid at the moment is the constant outside chatter surrounding Vinicius Junior.

Opponents in La Liga often target the Brazilian superstar and persistently foul him in a bid to stop him, while fans at other stadiums are not a big fan of his antics.

The 26-year-old himself often tends to go down with minimal contact, which further adds to the furore around other clubs.

After last night’s match, Espanyol took a dig at the Madrid star with a tweet aimed at him, suggesting that he deserved a second yellow for simulation.

Now, according to AS, Jose Mourinho has made his position on Vinicius Junior clear: he will defend the Brazilian when he feels opponents go too far.

However, he will also demand greater emotional control from one of Madrid’s most important players.

Mourinho: ‘Now, Vini is mine’

Vinicius Jr didn’t have the best of nights vs Espanyol. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Mourinho considers Vinicius fully part of his project and wants to protect him while also preventing his reactions from damaging either himself or the team.

The relationship between the pair had previously been strained by incidents when Mourinho was still on the opposing side, particularly during the Benfica-Real Madrid clashes last season.

That dynamic has now changed completely.

Mourinho made that clear after the recent match against Espanyol, saying: “Now Vini is mine.”

The Portuguese coach also defended the winger against what he believes is excessive physical and psychological targeting from opponents.

“He is not a saint, but what they do to him is too much,” Mourinho said.

Support does not mean total freedom

Mourinho’s backing, however, is not unconditional approval of everything Vinicius does.

The report says the coach knows the Brazilian has a rebellious streak that needs to be managed carefully, especially in emotionally charged matches.

He has spoken to Vinicius about maintaining self-control and even warned him to be careful about how he celebrates goals.

Vini must earn Mourinho’s trust. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

This is where Mourinho’s management could become important.

Vinicius often plays on the edge emotionally, and that fire is part of what makes him dangerous. However, it needs to be fuelled carefully.

Mourinho appears determined to strike the perfect balance.

He will defend Vinicius publicly when he feels the winger is being unfairly targeted, but behind the scenes, he will also demand discipline.

Vinicius does not need a coach who simply tells him he is always right.

He needs one who understands his frustration, protects him when necessary and still holds him accountable when his reactions threaten the team’s interests.

There is no better man-manager than Jose to do that, and it remains to be seen whether the Portuguese tactician helps soften Vinicius a bit and brings his football back to the forefront.