Mourinho's Directive for Vinicius Jr. Ahead of Madrid Derby
Jose Mourinho has drawn a hard line for Vinicius Jr. before the Madrid derby. No distractions. No side battles. Just football.
According to Defensa Central, the Real Madrid coach has spoken directly and clearly with the Brazilian ahead of the clash with Atletico at the Metropolitano, a game Mourinho views as a chance to send an early message in the title race.
Mourinho’s order: no fights, no feuds
The instruction is blunt. Vinicius must keep his head on the game and out of the chaos around it.
Mourinho does not want his winger reacting to the stands or getting into running arguments with the referee. The Metropolitano will be hostile, Diego Simeone’s side will test Madrid’s nerve, and Mourinho knows one flashpoint could drag Vinicius away from what matters.
The Brazilian has been a constant target for opposition supporters, with boos, insults and provocation following him from stadium to stadium. His responses – verbal exchanges with fans, protests to officials – have increasingly become part of the narrative around his performances.
Mourinho wants that storyline cut off at the source.
He has told Vinicius to avoid any confrontation with the crowd and to stay away from prolonged disputes with the referee, convinced those moments only drain his focus and, in the end, damage Real Madrid’s chances.
Instead, the coach expects him fully locked into the match, with and without the ball. His attacking spark remains central to Madrid’s plan, but Mourinho also wants him switched on defensively, tracking back, pressing, and staying in sync with his teammates for the full 90 minutes.
Backing in public, demands in private
These demands do not come out of nowhere.
After Real Madrid’s win over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, Mourinho publicly addressed the treatment Vinicius receives. He backed his player, but without pretending he is flawless.
"Vini Jr. isn't a saint, but what they're doing to him is too much. It starts right from the first minute. I think it's a pattern, something that repeats itself from one opponent to the next," Mourinho said.
That admission explains his current approach. He knows the provocation will not suddenly stop. So he is trying to manage it, not simply tell Vinicius to shrug it off and carry on as usual.
For the derby, the message is crystal clear: let the football speak. At the Metropolitano, where noise and tension will be at their peak, Mourinho wants Vinicius to answer everything with the ball at his feet.
