Mourinho defends Mbappe and asks: ‘Are you unhappy because we won?’

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has defended Kylian Mbappe against criticism of his defensive contribution, claiming some commentators “do not understand football” while others choose not to tell the truth.

Mbappe was criticised despite Real Madrid’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan. The France striker responded in an interview with L’Equipe, saying: “I think this is not normal, but this is the life of someone who has experienced excellence for years.”

“People naturally always look at what someone does not do,” he added. “When he has done something for 10 years, people no longer look at what he does. They know he is capable of doing it, so they always try to focus on what he does not do.”

Speaking at a news conference on Friday before Saturday’s match against Rayo Vallecano, Mourinho said Mbappe’s response was justified and compared him with a fruit-bearing tree.

“I do not talk about those who criticise,” Mourinho said, according to AS. “I use the same Portuguese proverb I used about Vinicius. He is a tree carrying many, too many, fruits, and people usually throw stones at a fruitful tree.”

“A player who scores 40 goals is never a problem for the team. When you manage to create friendship and respect, imagine that.”

Mourinho said he valued Mbappe’s work in the closing stages against Inter, when Real Madrid were defending with 10 players.

“I saw the team in the final minutes playing with 10 men, defending on the left with Cucurella, who had exhausted his energy, and Kylian, who had exhausted his energy,” he said. “As a coach, I value that incredibly. That kind of behaviour brings me joy.”

He added that some people who understood football had also seen those efforts but preferred to highlight Real Madrid’s defensive shortcomings.

“They say we could have conceded three or four goals, but they do not also say we could have scored eight,” Mourinho said. “There are matches that are very boring, and perhaps we play some of them. In Champions League games, both teams can be afraid of each other, nobody takes risks and people go home with a bad taste.”

“Could they have scored four? Yes, yes. But we could have scored eight. Why do they not say that? Are you unhappy because we won?”

Mourinho also criticised the solidarity between referees after the Spanish refereeing committee backed the decision not to retake a penalty awarded to Mbappe against Real Betis.

“That does not surprise me because there is a lot of protection among referees,” he said. “It is very rare and very difficult for them to criticise a refereeing decision. The union among referees is power.”

He would not confirm his starting XI for the match with Rayo Vallecano, including whether Yann Diomande would play, but said fresh energy could be required.

“I am not thinking about the next three matches, only tomorrow’s game. I want to win,” he said. “We have three matches in nine days, with Elche in three days, but the focus is on how to win tomorrow.”

Mourinho said Camavinga, Bernardo and Arda had returned, adding that two or three players who did not feature in the previous match could provide extra energy while others rested.

On Thibaut Courtois, whose contract has one year remaining, Mourinho said neither the goalkeeper nor the club was concerned. He praised Courtois, who had chosen not to play in the Nations League for his country, saying the decision allowed him greater focus and rest during UEFA and FIFA international windows.

Mourinho also said he had not intervened in the reported dispute between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni last season.

“I did nothing. They did it themselves,” he said, praising the group’s friendship, support and shared commitment. “If I knew nothing about what happened last season, I would think they were close friends.”

He joked that he had initially been ready to act as “the minister of peace” when Tchouameni arrived, but ultimately no intervention was needed.