Mourinho calls for greater protection for Vinicius as Real Madrid prepare for Real Sociedad

Jose Mourinho says Vinicius Junior is being treated differently from other players and criticised VAR after the Real Madrid forward was allegedly subjected to an incident that should have resulted in a red card.

The Real Madrid manager was speaking before Wednesday’s rearranged La Liga meeting with Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu, as his side look to build on their 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their opening fixture.

The match was postponed from the first round of the season because several Real Madrid players had been involved in the later stages of the 2026 World Cup. Real Madrid are seeking a second successive win and will hope home advantage helps them keep pace with Barcelona, who began their campaign with a 5-0 victory over Elche.

“This is our first home game, but it is one of 19 matches,” Mourinho said. “Every point matters. Our objective is to win, while respecting a team that deserves respect, has a clear identity and top players, and will make the match difficult for us.”

He added: “Against Espanyol, we felt the support of the opposing fans, and tomorrow we expect the support of our own supporters. I hope the team shows the same hunger to win, the spirit, the resilience, the strength and the calm. I want the fans to see and feel that.”

Mourinho said Real Madrid were still working towards full fitness after a disrupted preparation.

“Espanyol entered the game with a level of intensity that we did not have,” he said. “We have a core group of players who have worked for longer, and playing matches speeds up the process of returning to normal physical condition.”

He said players such as Marc Cucurella needed competitive football and that decisions on fitness would be based on data, his experience and the players’ own feelings.

Mourinho raises concerns over Vinicius treatment

Mourinho said there was a “clear difference” in the way Vinicius was treated compared with other players, although he admitted he had not watched every match involving the clubs last season.

“He has entered a spiral, and opponents feel they can do that to him, and they do,” Mourinho said. “It is like small children; they go as far as you allow them to go. It is treatment I do not like.”

He added: “He was kicked, and it was an assault. It should have been a red card. Apart from a few things, I liked the refereeing very much.”

Mourinho said he understood that the referee and fourth official might not have seen the incident, but added: “As for VAR, I can say it did not do its job very well.”

Despite his criticism, Mourinho said he continued to trust Spanish officials and referees in the Champions League.

“I always trust Spanish refereeing, and the same applies to the Champions League,” he said. “I do not think in a way like: he is Negreira’s friend. They have made decisions that affected the results of matches, but that happens.”

Mourinho said Vinicius could improve the way he responds to incidents that are not linked to racism or homophobia, while insisting that responsibility for fouls, challenges and penalties rested with the referee.

“If they did that to me, with my personality, perhaps I would get a red card,” Mourinho said with a laugh. “His relationship with supporters at the opposition’s stadiums is something we can work on.”

Mourinho says squad is complete

The Portuguese said he wanted the Santiago Bernabeu to welcome the team with passion rather than give him a special reception.

“I am not important,” he said. “I can control my emotions and play the match normally, although it is not an ordinary game because it is for three points. I want the team to feel something different from what it felt last season.”

Mourinho also said he was calmer and better able to control his emotions, adding that the staff and players at Real Madrid helped protect him from “the dark side” of his personality.

He said his squad was complete, although the transfer window remained open.

“In my mind, the squad is complete and I am not asking for anything,” Mourinho said. “I am happy, and if someone leaves, I will remain happy.”

On combining Jude Bellingham, Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, he said the difficulty was a positive one created by having several top-class players. He declined to discuss the tactical details in depth before the team had played and lost, but said he wanted all three players available.

Mourinho said Federico Valverde was a midfielder, despite some managers having used the Uruguay international as a right-back out of necessity. His position could vary according to the team’s objectives and the opposition.

He also confirmed that Carlos Espi could play alongside Mbappe, saying the team had developed during pre-season and had also tried the same approach with Endrick. Mourinho described Espi as a different type of player who could have been useful against a deep Espanyol defence, while also adding quality alongside Trent.

Injury concerns over Tchouameni and Endrick

Mourinho said Aurelien Tchouameni had suffered after his involvement in the World Cup. The France international did not play in two matches but featured in the semi-final, and Mourinho said his holiday had not been long enough.

“He wants to try, and he has already tried, but we decided that he could not start the season while he was struggling,” Mourinho said.

Endrick, meanwhile, has a muscle problem affecting his tendon.

“I cannot tell you more,” Mourinho said. “He is a player I like very much, and he received many offers from other clubs. I wanted him, which is why he was not loaned out or sold.”

Mourinho said he was unsure whether Endrick would be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s first squad, but added that Ancelotti was a friend and would contact him directly.

On the congested calendar and players’ lack of full fitness, Mourinho said he did not regard the situation as unfair. He thanked the league for using common sense by delaying the start by another week, saying the alternative would have created a problem.

“If we have this accumulation of matches, it is because something positive led to it,” he said. “We have to play three matches a week. If a player suffers too much, he will not play and another player will take his place.”