Mourinho backs Vinícius Jr after Inter win but warns effort must come first

José Mourinho offered a qualified defence of Vinícius Jr after Real Madrid edged Inter 2-1 in their Champions League league-phase opener at the Bernabéu on Tuesday, telling reporters his support for the winger is conditional on effort rather than automatic.

Asked why he had shown visible affection towards Vinícius after substituting him, Mourinho was direct: the backing exists because the Brazilian has given everything asked of him, not because of his name or status. He stopped short of guaranteeing the forward a starting place or a full 90 minutes going forward.

Support with conditions attached

Mourinho framed the relationship in practical terms. He said that giving everything does not obligate a player to give more, and that Vinícius has met that standard — but the implication was clear that the standard must be maintained. To illustrate the level he still believes Vinícius can reach, Mourinho pointed to a decisive counter-attack the winger produced during his time at Benfica, when Vinícius closed out a match from 1-1, as evidence of what remains within reach.

That reference carries weight given the questions already circulating about Vinícius’s long-term contract situation at Real Madrid, a topic that has shadowed his form throughout the summer.

Not at his peak, but working towards it

Mourinho also addressed the jeers Vinícius received from sections of the Bernabéu crowd, separating his own assessment from the supporters’ reaction. He said he was speaking as a coach, not as a critic of the fans, and that Vinícius has his utmost respect even though the winger is not currently at his best. Mourinho added that Vinícius himself is the first to acknowledge that, and that the extra work he is putting in during this period is a direct response to it.

The coach attributed recent moments where Vinícius has struggled to connect with the team’s rhythm to fatigue rather than any deeper problem, and said he expects the match-deciding version of the player to return. It is a stance consistent with how Mourinho has spoken about managing Real Madrid’s attacking talent more broadly — echoing the balance between freedom and responsibility he described when discussing Jude Bellingham’s role under him.

The game itself was a chaotic affair that Mourinho admitted was not the kind of contest he would prefer, given how open it became at both ends. He noted that Inter’s three-centre-back structure with wing-backs made life difficult for wide players in general, offering that as context for why Vinícius found it hard to impose himself before being withdrawn.