Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho insisted on his confidence in La Liga officials after criticizing the treatment of star striker Vinicius Junior in the opening match against Espanyol.
Madrid Mourinho began his second spell in charge with a 2-1 away win, with Carlos Espe coming off the bench to score the winner in the 90th minute.
However, Mourinho was angry at the behavior of Espanyol players towards Vinicius, who was fouled eight times in a match in which he was largely a marginal figure.
Vinicius often angered rival players and fans during his time with Real Madrid.
Last February, Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Pristiani of racial abuse in a confrontation between the two after the Brazilian broke the deadlock in a Champions League match in Lisbon. Pristiani was eventually banned for six matches by UEFA for homophobic abuse, with this ban extended globally by FIFA.
Mourinho was Benfica’s coach in that match, and made controversial comments insinuating that Vinicius was the one who sparked the incident with his celebration.
But after his return to coaching Madrid, Mourinho claimed Vinicius was being bullied on the pitch and urged him to control his emotions.
Mourinho echoed these sentiments in his press conference ahead of Wednesday’s home match against Real Sociedad LeagueBut he expressed his confidence in the officials, despite his insistence that Espanyol’s Alex Calatrava should have been sent off for kicking Vinicius in the back.
Mourinho said: “The general difference between Vinny and the other players is clear. He’s caught in a downward spiral, and opponents feel they can get away with it, so they do.
“It’s like little children – they go over the line as much as you let them. I don’t like the way he’s being treated. He was kicked in a way that constituted assault; it should have been an expulsion.”
“Apart from a few things, I really liked the refereeing. I can understand that the referee did not see the kick that Vinicius took which called for the red card. I think the fourth official chose not to intervene. As far as VAR is concerned, I would say they did not do their job well.
“But I believe in Spanish refereeing. That’s what I always do, even in the Champions League.”
The visit of Sociedad will be Mourinho’s first home game since the 4-2 win over Osasuna at the end of his first spell in June 2013.
Mourinho does not want any special welcome upon his return, but called on fans to show love to the team that was absent during the turbulent 2025-26 season.
He added: “I don’t want the Bernabéu to welcome me in any particular way.”
“I want him to welcome the team with his passion. This love was going through a difficult phase last season. I would like the team to feel something different than how it felt last season.”
