Mourinho refuses to abandon Real Madrid superstar despite worst start since COVID-19 | OneFootball

Jose Mourinho has no intention of abandoning Vinicius Jr. despite the Real Madrid forward enduring his least productive start to a season since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to AS, Mourinho remains firmly behind the Brazilian and sees him as an important part of his plans.

In fact, the manager is eager to find a way to bring the winger back to his best.

Vinicius has scored only once in his opening eight matches, despite playing 652 minutes. To put it in perspective, only Federico Valverde, Thibaut Courtois and Kylian Mbappe have accumulated more minutes for Madrid.

Vinicius’ numbers highlight an unusual start

The Brazilian’s lack of goals is particularly striking because of how consistently he has been used.

His current return is his weakest over the opening eight matches since his first season in Spain. 

In 2018-19, he barely featured during the corresponding period, while in 2019-20 he had one goal after eight matches but had played only 310 minutes.

His numbers improved significantly in the seasons that followed.

The strongest start came in 2021-22, when Vinicius scored once every 117 minutes during the opening stretch. 

Even his 2023-24 start needs context, as an injury restricted him to four appearances in the first eight games.

This season, there is no such explanation for his limited output, as Mourinho has continued to give him responsibility, but the performances have not consistently matched his importance to the team.

Mourinho refuses to lose faith in Vinicius

The dip in form has inevitably created discussion over whether another player should take his place.

On that note, Yan Diomande has been mentioned as an alternative on the wing, but Mourinho is clear that Vinicius remains central to his plans.

Mourinho will not lose faith in Vinicius. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)

Furthermore, apart from his goals, there are other statistics to be taken into consideration.

On that note, Vinicius has been fouled 23 times, compared with eight for Lamine Yamal, while he has lost possession 91 times against Yamal’s 130. 

He has also failed to complete 16 dribbles, only four fewer than the Barcelona winger.

Indeed, those numbers do not erase the lack of goals, but they suggest Vinicius remains heavily involved in Madrid’s attacking play.

For Mourinho, the task is therefore not replacing him but helping him recover his confidence and effectiveness. 

The manager’s continued backing shows that Vinicius is still viewed as a key figure in the long-term Real Madrid project, regardless of his difficult opening to the campaign.