Mourinho defends Vinicius after return to Real Madrid bench, praises Bellingham

Jose Mourinho, in his first game since returning as Real Madrid's head coach, found himself commenting on yet another controversy involving Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian forward was repeatedly involved in confrontations with Espanyol players and fans during Real's 2:1 victory.

Coach calls for restraint, but defends his player

After the match, Mourinho acknowledged that Vinicius needs to better control his emotions, but stressed that the treatment directed at him by opponents and spectators often goes beyond acceptable limits. According to the coach, the trouble started from the very first minutes, with opposing players committing fouls against the Brazilian one after another and picking up yellow cards in the process.

The Portuguese manager said Vinicius also needs to be more careful in how he celebrates goals going forward, in order to avoid unnecessary consequences and stay on the pitch. Mourinho noted that although there is currently much discussion about combating bullying in sport, the situation regarding Vinicius remains unchanged, both from opponents and from the crowd.

During the first half, Vinicius was involved in a clash with Alex Calatrava, after which he protested a refereeing decision and was himself shown a yellow card for arguing. Mourinho believes the player needs to learn to handle such situations better, given that rougher play is frequently directed at him.

Praise for Bellingham

Mourinho also praised Jude Bellingham after the match. The English midfielder, having just returned from international duty with England, put Real ahead as early as the ninth minute. The coach expressed his belief that Bellingham's best position on the pitch is closer to the opponent's goal, as that is where he can make the fullest use of his physical and mental strength.