Mourinho urges Vinícius to control emotions and defends Spanish referee honesty

Managing emotions and referee protection

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho addressed the treatment of forward Vinícius Júnior ahead of the club's home fixture against Real Sociedad. Mourinho explained that while the Brazilian international needs to improve his composure when dealing with standard insults from opposing supporters, match officials bear the responsibility of shielding players from physical aggression on the pitch. The comments followed Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday, where Vinícius absorbed repeated contact, including a third-minute foul from behind that Mourinho argued warranted a red card. The manager criticized the video assistant referee for missing the incident while noting that opponents often commit up to ten fouls against the forward before receiving a booking.

The reaction to fans and insults, obviously if they are not racist or homophobic insults, but the typical insults by fans, then I think he can control it better. His relationship with the opposing fans, I think he can do better. In the game, when it comes to the fouls and the accumulation of frustration that he feels, that's the responsibility of the referees, or the judges, as I like to call them, in terms of their responsibility to protect the players and the game.

Spanish refereeing and the Negreira case

Addressing broader questions regarding match officials in Spain, Mourinho defended the integrity of domestic referees despite recent controversies surrounding the profession. He dismissed suggestions that active officials carry personal loyalties or historical obligations linked to former referee committee vice president José María Enríquez Negreira, who received 7.3 million euros from Barcelona between 2001 and 2018. While acknowledging that refereeing calls influenced opening-weekend fixtures involving Atlético Madrid and Sevilla, Mourinho maintained that errors are part of football rather than evidence of corruption. He declined to compare the protection afforded to Vinícius with that given to Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, stating that his focus remains solely on the broader dynamic affecting his own player.

I do not think that there is a referee in Spain today who goes onto the pitch thinking he is a friend of Negreira or that Negreira asked him for a favor years ago. I believe in the honesty of Spanish referees.

Return to the Bernabéu bench

Wednesday's match against Real Sociedad marks Mourinho's first official fixture on the home bench at the Santiago Bernabéu in 13 years, having previously managed the club between 2010 and 2013. The Portuguese coach noted that he wants supporters to focus on backing the team with passion rather than providing him with any personal reception. Real Madrid is attempting to reset after finishing the previous campaign without silverware, a period Mourinho described as a complicated phase in the relationship between the squad and the fanbase. During the press conference, Mourinho displayed a lighter tone, briefly leaving the room before returning to share a joke with reporters regarding internal club sources.

Squad status and Tchouaméni recovery

Mourinho provided updates on team selection, confirming that midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni will miss the match against Real Sociedad due to physical discomfort. The French international experienced physical strain during the World Cup, prompting the medical and coaching staff to avoid rushing his return until he reaches full fitness. Regarding the transfer window, Mourinho stated that he considers the current squad complete from his perspective, though he acknowledged that club management could still process late market opportunities. He reaffirmed that he remains content with the existing group if no further departures or additions take place before the deadline.