Mourinho urges Vinicius Jr to control emotions

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has urged his star winger Vinicius Jr to demonstrate excellent emotional control following a recent incident in their La Liga match against Espanyol. The 63-year-old manager's comments come after Vinicius Jr received a yellow card for arguing with midfielder Cala in the first half, a goalless draw that left Mourinho frustrated.

The Brazilian has endured a history of abuse during his eight-year tenure at Real Madrid, including an allegation of racial abuse during a previous encounter with Mourinho in a Benfica game, which the Argentine denied.

Mourinho emphasized that he now considers Vinicius Jr as part of his team, acknowledging that the player is not a saint but the abuse directed towards him is intolerable. He highlighted that opponents target the winger to provoke a reaction, and this behavior occurs in all teams he faces. The Portuguese coach expressed frustration on behalf of Vinicius Jr, stating that the player must maintain emotional control to avoid igniting reactions in the stands.

Mourinho even discussed the issue with Vinicius Jr at halftime, cautioning him about the consequences of his celebrations when scoring goals.

Mourinho acknowledged the challenging social era of anti-bullying, noting that the issue remains pervasive both among opponents and the crowd. He emphasized the importance of educating and preparing Vinicius Jr to navigate these challenges effectively, both on and off the pitch.