Jose Mourinho spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Inter on Tuesday. He was asked about Vinicius Jr’s performance and why he showed affection to the Brazilian, to which he said: “If he works for the team, he always has my support. This means he should always start, or play 90 minutes… no, but he’ll always have my respect and affection if he’s played for the team. Against a team with three center-backs and wing-backs, it’s very difficult for wingers. Brahim has done very well centrally,
very good for the team. Obviously, he could… in some of those plays… Vini, when he’s at his best, kills games. Like he did to me at Benfica, when he finished the game off with a counter-attack at 1-1. Someone who gives their all isn’t obligated to give more. And he has.”
Mourinho on the match
“The bottom line is that it could have ended 6-6 or something like that. We had chances to score more. The game was crazy, a kind of madness I don’t like. I prefer to score five, six, or seven points, but to have complete control and not need an absolutely incredible goalkeeper. It’s difficult to play with Trent, whose work I appreciate, but his characteristics aren’t ideal for that position. I would have liked to make changes earlier, but if you look at the goals we conceded, it was due to lapses in defensive intensity. But when we were compact, we were very good. Valverde interpreted the structure well. And I can’t separate my words from the context that we played against a great team, with a thousand options. It was a very tough match, and these are three very important points. We need three less to qualify, and I’m sure we’ll do it. But getting these three, in the first round, is important.”
Mourinho on Vinicius Jr being booed
“I’m not criticizing the fans, I’m speaking as a coach. He has my utmost respect. He’s not at his peak. It’s something we all see. But he knows it, he’s the first to know it. And he’s working to become the Vinicius who decides matches. But because he’s not at his peak, he’s working harder than ever. The few times he hasn’t been able to gel, it’s been due to fatigue. I have a lot of respect for this Vinicius, and the one who wins us games will come.”
Mourinho on Mbappe being booed
“I don’t comment on audience reactions. I’m not doing it today, and I won’t until the very last moment I’m here. When he left, I gave him a kiss, and for me, that signifies respect for the work with the team.”
Mourinho on Trent in midfield
“He played very well, tactically understanding what he needed to do. Curtis Jones and Barella’s positions… they worked at that level. He had a few turnovers, because it’s not the same playing with the ball up front as in midfield. But mainly it’s the intensity. The specific demands of that position, in terms of intensity, are very different. It’s a different kind of drive. But he gave his all. And I’m grateful to Tchouameni, who, without having trained with the team at all… because his last touch of the ball was at the World Cup. What you saw yesterday was just a deception. And I appreciate his effort.”
Mourinho on boos from the fans
“I’m not going to comment on the stadium. The other day we thrashed Betis, they suffered, but there were 60,000 more of them. It’s a great club, but Madrid is something else, people want a different kind of challenge. You guys like these kinds of questions. I’m not angry with anyone. We’ll get there.”
Mourinho on Inter
“They’re clearly the best team in Italy. I only see Roma as having the legs to be close to them and maybe even do something extraordinary. Chivu hasn’t been here long, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do great things. I haven’t been here long either. This is just the beginning of my job; there’s still a long way to go.”
