José Mourinho insisted on Tuesday that “there’s a difference” in how Vinícius Júnior is treated by opponents and referees, calling on officials to do more to protect the Real Madrid star.
A kick on Vinícius went unpunished in the early minutes of Madrid‘s 2-1 LaLiga win at Espanyol on Saturday, with Mourinho comparing the treatment of the winger to “bullying” after the match.
Madrid host Real Sociedad on Wednesday in their first home game of the season at the Bernabéu.
“What I can say is — and it’s the same in friendlies, in games outside Spain — it’s obvious the difference in general between Vini and other players,” Mourinho said in a news conference on Tuesday. “There’s a dynamic, a spiral. Opponents feel that they can do [foul him], and they do it. It seems obvious to me.
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“It’s like kids. Little kids go as far as you allow them to. With players, it’s the same. If the yellow card doesn’t arrive after 10 fouls, they think ‘I can be aggressive.'”
The player who kicked Vinícius — Álex Calatrava — went on to score for Espanyol, before being booked for another clash with the Brazil international.
“With the aggression on Vinícius, I understand that the referee didn’t see it,” Mourinho said. “And the fourth official didn’t want to make his own decision, which could be fundamental in the game. But we can say that the VAR didn’t do his job well.
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Before each game, I believe always in the referee, whatever league I’m in … After the game, there are sometimes things I don’t like.”
Mourinho admitted that he thought Vinícius could manage aspects of his on-field behaviour differently. “There’s on the pitch and off the pitch,” Mourinho said.
“His relationship with the crowds — not racism, but ‘normal’ insults — I think that can improve. But in terms of the game, kicks, penalties, frustration, I think that’s the responsibility of the ‘judge,’ the referee. If I start the game and I get a kick, with my personality … it is probably a red card for me a minute later! The players have to be protected.”
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Mourinho said he didn’t expect Madrid to make any more signings this window, having already made six additions this summer, all of whom featured against Espanyol.
“For me, [the squad] is closed,” he said. “But with the market open, you never know what could happen. A player comes and says they want to leave, ‘I’ve been on the bench for two games and I want to go.’ It’s a thing that can happen.
“I don’t know, maybe the president [Florentino Pérez], JAS [José Ángel Sánchez], call me saying we have an incredible offer for a player. But in my head, the squad is closed.”
