Real Madrid set an example for opponents, who took too much liberty with Vinicius Jr in the LaLiga match against Espanyol, Jose Mourinho believes, after seeing the Brazil winger targeted over and over by his rivals.
RCDE Stadium was a frustrating 5 minutes for Madrid as Vinicius was forced to the ground by Alex Calatrava and then looked as if he got a second shot from Calatrava while he was sitting. The Real Madrid players immediately protested for a red card, but the referee did not do so.
The incident marked the ongoing trend for Vinicius that has been a problem in his career, Mourinho said, suggesting that opponents seem to be taking turns to foul the winger.
“Vinicius is no saint, but what they’re doing to him was too much. Right from the first minute. It’s a routine that’s going to be happening again and again from one opponent to the next,” Mourinho said.
The Real Madrid coach also noted that he would encourage players to utilise the booking system to their benefit, by getting them to pass responsibility for holding Vinicius between their teammates.
Real Madrid got the 3 points, but it was a dramatic finale that had everyone debating the game. Jude Bellingham took the lead before Calatrava evened the score for Espanyol. In the 90th minute, late substitute Carlo Espi finally rattled them off the bench to level the score at 2-2 before firing home a crucial shot to give Madrid a 2-1 win.
Vinicius was still very much in the running, as Madrid fought it out man to man. The winger is not to be blamed for the situation but Mourinho said it is become a recurring issue.
The win continues Real Madrid’s campaign, but the words of Mourinho will certainly contribute to the controversy about their defence of Vinicius in LaLiga. Madrid’s first challenge will be to keep their winning streak going while Vinicius will wish that he can continue to impact games without always being marked down.
