RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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SportsMoney Real Madrid Boss Mourinho Slams ‘Bullying’ Of Vinicius After Espanyol By Tom Sanderson ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tom Sanderson has been primarily based in Barcelona since 2019. Follow Author Aug 22, 2026, 06:17pm EDT Aug 22, 2026, 06:36pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has fiercely defended winger Vinicius Jr., accusing the public of "bullying" him. After a 2-1 win against Espanyol, where Vinicius faced criticism for a diving incident, Mourinho asserted that while his player isn't a "saint," the persistent negative treatment from opponents and the public is excessive. Mourinho stressed the importance of preparing Vinicius emotionally, noting the irony given broader anti-bullying sentiments. Goals from Jude Bellingham and Carlos Espi sealed the victory, though Mourinho conceded Espanyol didn't deserve to lose. Real Madrid now prepares to face Real Sociedad.
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho accused the general public of "bullying" when it comes to his winger Vinicius Jr .
Many felt that Vinicius should have been booked for a diving incident when trying to win a penalty during a 2-1 win against Espanyol.
Goals from Jude Bellingham and Carlos Espi were enough to earn three points in Mourinho’s second La Liga debut as Los Blancos boss. But he stuck up for his charge as is often the Mourinho way even if his players have done wrong.
“I have the risk that you go back months and dig my words up from when I was Vini’s opponent," Mourinho said , in reference to a racism incident in the Champions League when the Portuguese managed Benfica last season.
“Now Vini is mine. He is not a saint, but what they do to him is too much. In the first minute,” Mourinho said, possibly referring to a push and kick from goalscorer Cala.
“It is something that has a format, it has something that is repeated from adversary to adversary… He has to have a lot of emotional control. I told him that if he scores a goal, he should be attentive to how he is going to celebrate. We are in a social era of anti-bullying and with Vini we are still in bullying, of adversaries and of the public. We have to educate and prepare him to the maximum and that’s it.”
Though they weren’t overly-convincing, Mourinho still stated that “I think we deserved to win, but Espanyol didn't deserve to lose”.
“We had great control, pressure. We risked a lot and we think we deserved to win, but a team that plays like Espanyol, defending as they have defended and coming out on the counter with danger, very well organised, I think it is hard for them to go home with nothing. But I repeat, we deserved it.”
After, like FC Barcelona, starting the league a weekend later than everyone else, Real Madrid is next out against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
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