Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has issued a passionate defence of Vinicius Junior as the Brazilian winger continues to struggle for his best form. The Portuguese coach addressed growing concerns regarding the forward’s performances ahead of the clash with Villarreal.
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has strongly defended his handling of an explosive altercation between Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni earlier this year. The Portuguese manager revealed that he faced intense public backlash after refusing to take sides during the heated Champions League controversy between the two South American attackers.
Jose Mourinho will forever be the ‘Special One’, but does he still possess that unique brand of magic? Carlton Cole worked with the enigmatic Portuguese at Chelsea and has told GOAL why Real Madrid need a familiar face at Santiago Bernabeu to be more of a “father figure” to Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham than an outspoken and demanding leader.
Ex-Brazil international Anderson has told GOAL why the likes of Vinicius Junior may have earned “superstar” status prematurely, with any player that has “five good games” suddenly worth “200 million” in modern football. The former Manchester United midfielder continues to use Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the blueprint for what success really looks like.
Samuel Lino has conceded he faces fierce competition to nail down a regular berth on Brazil's left wing despite his impressive brace against India. The Flamengo forward came off the bench to score twice in a 4-0 friendly victory in Kolkata but readily acknowledged that dislodging Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior remains a monumental task.
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