Mourinho faces Vinicius decision after Real Madrid survive Elche scare

Real Madrid survived a late scare to beat Elche 3-2 on Tuesday, but Vinicius Junior’s failure to convert four clear chances has intensified questions over whether Jose Mourinho should drop the Brazil forward.

The visitors appeared to be in complete control during the first half of the La Liga match, and could have put the contest beyond Elche much earlier. Instead, their attacking wastefulness allowed the home side to remain in contention before Carlos Espe scored a decisive late winner.

Mourinho endured a difficult second half as Real’s two-goal advantage gradually disappeared and their performance declined. The late goal eventually secured three points and spared the club what could have become one of the most complicated games of their season.

However, the problems exposed at Elche are not new. Real have repeatedly failed to turn attacking dominance into goals at the start of the campaign, with Vinicius at the centre of concern. The forward has not consistently provided the finishing, penetration or influence in the final third that supporters have come to expect.

The 25-year-old scored only once in his first six La Liga appearances, while team-mate Kylian Mbappe leads the scoring charts with seven goals. Vinicius has not lacked opportunities, though. He continues to reach dangerous positions, but his decision-making and execution in front of goal have been below his usual level.

The issue was particularly clear against Elche, where all four of his major chances came during a spell in which Real Madrid were dominating. Had they been taken, the match could have been settled well before the closing stages. Instead, Elche were given hope, applied pressure late on and came close to claiming a point.

Carlos Espe’s winner reduced the scrutiny on Vinicius, but it cannot continue to do so every week.

Mourinho had defended the player after last Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan, rejecting the jeers directed at him by sections of the Real Madrid support.

“In Portugal there is a saying, although I do not know whether it exists in Spain in exactly the same form: ‘You only throw stones at trees that bear fruit’. What has Vini done here in recent years? How many Champions Leagues has he won? How many goals has he scored? He is a tree bearing plenty of fruit. People throw stones because they want the fruit,” Mourinho said.

“The best version of Vinicius will arrive. The version from last year, when the Bernabeu was afraid against Benfica and he ended up deciding the match. That version of Vinicius will arrive,” he added.

Yet Mourinho replaced Vinicius in the 68th minute against Elche after another poor display, suggesting the manager may be reconsidering his unwavering support.

Mourinho has a reputation for making difficult selection decisions and removing high-profile players when he believes it benefits the team. Vinicius previously clashed with Xabi Alonso last season over being substituted regularly, but the current manager has a different personality and may be more willing to make clear that performance determines selection.

Real have alternatives. Yan Diomande could operate on the left, with Arda Guler on the right and Jude Bellingham in midfield, while Ibrahim Diaz is another option. Resting Vinicius could therefore be both a tactical decision and a chance for him to regain focus.

The question is whether Mourinho is prepared to act.