Mourinho Defends Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé Amid Whistles
Real Madrid boss José Mourinho has gone on the front foot to defend Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé after both were whistled by sections of the Santiago Bernabéu crowd, insisting he will stand firmly behind any player who empties the tank for the team.
Madrid return to the Bernabéu on Saturday to face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, looking to steady themselves after a stuttering spell: a league defeat to Real Betis followed by a tense, draining Champions League win over Inter Milan. The European victory should have lifted the mood. Instead, it exposed a fault line between parts of the fanbase and two of the club’s biggest stars.
Mourinho’s proverb and a pointed defence
Asked about the whistles aimed at Vinícius and Mbappé, Mourinho chose not to escalate the tension. He chose a proverb.
“In Portugal there is a proverb: you only throw stones at trees that have fruit,” he said, as quoted by 20Minutos. “You are not going to throw stones at a tree that gives you nothing. What Vini has done here in recent years, how many Champions Leagues he has won, how many goals he has scored, he is a tree that has a lot of fruit. People throw stones because they want fruit, they want the best from Vinicius.”
It was a calculated message to the stands. Criticism, yes. Rejection, no. Not for players who have delivered on the biggest nights.
The coach urged supporters to remember exactly what the Brazilian has already put in the club’s trophy cabinet and to measure their frustration against that record.
Mbappé “like an animal” in the 90th minute
Mourinho then turned to Mbappé, and his tone sharpened. He didn’t talk about goals or star power. He talked about a sprint.
He highlighted the Frenchman’s work without the ball in the closing stages against Inter, when Madrid were down to ten men and hanging on.
“I use the same proverb as I did for Vinícius,” Mourinho continued. “There are things I see and value highly. I watched a team playing in the 90th minute, down to ten men for the final two minutes, and I saw Mbappe playing as a left-winger, defending while a man down, covering for Cucurella, who was already dead on his feet.
“Kylian was exhausted too, yet he spent those two minutes defending the left flank like an animal, urged on by a very demanding coach who wouldn't stop shouting and motivating him.”
For Mourinho, that sequence said more about Mbappé than any missed chance or quiet spell. A superstar tracking back in the 90th minute, legs gone, still chasing, still tackling. That is the version he wants the Bernabéu to see.
A demanding coach, but loyal to the core
Mourinho did not hide his disappointment at hearing his own players whistled, admitting it makes him “sad” when the crowd turns on those in white. But he drew a clear line: commitment is non-negotiable, and anyone who meets that standard will have his protection.
He referenced comments from defender Dean Huijsen, who had described him as demanding, even a nuisance at times.
“I’ve read comments from Huijsen saying I’m a real pain, that I’m always on his case, and that’s somewhat true,” Mourinho said. “The expectation is that you give everything you have; and whoever gives everything isn't obliged to give more. When there is unity between team and stadium, you are almost unbeatable.”
That is the challenge now. With Rayo Vallecano coming to the Bernabéu and the season tightening, Mourinho has drawn his battle lines: he will push his players to the limit, and he expects the crowd to push with him, not against him.
