Jose Mourinho made a dramatic return to Real Madrid, winning 2-1 against Espanyol while defending Vinicius Junior from what he called 'bullying' by opponents.
Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid began with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Espanyol, but the Portuguese manager’s focus was not on the win—it was on the treatment of his star player, Vinicius Junior. Mourinho, who took charge of Los Blancos again in June, 13 years after his first stint, spoke passionately about the challenges Vinicius faces on the pitch.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, with Jude Bellingham opening the scoring in the 30th minute before Alex Calatrava equalized for Espanyol. The decisive moment came in the 90th minute when substitute Carlos Espi secured the victory for Real Madrid.
However, the game was marred by physical altercations, with Vinicius and Calatrava both receiving yellow cards in the first half.
Mourinho Accuses Opponents of Bullying Vinicius
Mourinho did not hold back in his post-match press conference, criticizing the way Vinicius is treated by opponents.
‘He’s no saint, but what they’re doing to him is too much,’ Mourinho said. ‘From the very first minute, it’s as if there’s already a pattern. Now I’ll foul him, now you’ll foul him, one player gets a yellow card, another comes in without one.’
The manager emphasized the mental toll this takes on Vinicius, adding, ‘We’re in a social era of anti-bullying, but with Vini, we’re still in the era of bullying.’ Mourinho even advised Vinicius to be cautious in his celebrations to avoid further provocation.
The Drama on the Pitch
Espanyol’s goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrovic, put in a stellar performance, denying Real Madrid multiple scoring opportunities. Federico Valverde’s long-range effort hit the post, while Kylian Mbappe, La Liga’s top scorer in previous seasons, was not at his sharpest in front of goal.
Mourinho acknowledged Espanyol’s resilience, stating, ‘I think we deserved to win, but Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose. They defended well and counter-attacked effectively.’ Despite the narrow victory, Mourinho’s primary concern remained the well-being of his players, particularly Vinicius, who faced relentless challenges throughout the match.
A New Era for Mourinho and Real Madrid
Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid comes at a critical time for the club, which has struggled to reclaim domestic dominance from Barcelona. His squad includes superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham, who scored the opening goal in this match. However, Mourinho’s immediate focus is on uniting the dressing room after a turbulent previous season.
Bellingham, who had a standout first season at Madrid, was instrumental in the victory, heading in Arda Guler’s free kick. New signings like Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konate also made their debuts, adding depth to Mourinho’s squad. Despite the win, the manager’s post-match comments highlighted a deeper issue—one that goes beyond the result and into the treatment of players on the pitch.
