Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho insists he has faith in LaLiga‘s officials after criticising the treatment of star forward Vinicius Junior in their opener against Espanyol.
Madrid began Mourinho’s second spell in charge with a 2-1 away victory as Carlos Espi came off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner.
Mourinho, though, was angered by the conduct of the Espanyol players towards Vinicius, who was fouled eight times in a game in which he was largely a peripheral figure.
Vinicius has frequently attracted the ire of opposing players and fans during his decorated spell with Madrid.
This February, Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse in a confrontation between the two after the Brazilian had broken the deadlock in their Champions League tie in Lisbon. Prestianni was eventually banned for six games by UEFA for homophobic abuse, with that suspension extended globally by FIFA.
Mourinho was Benfica coach for that game, and made controversial comments in which he intimated Vinicius provoked the incident with his celebration.
But following his return to the Madrid dugout, Mourinho claimed Vinicius is being bullied on the pitch and urged him to control his emotions.
Mourinho reiterated those sentiments when speaking in his press conference ahead of Wednesday’s game with Real Sociedad, but expressed confidence in the officials despite his insistence Espanyol’s Alex Calatrava should have been sent off for kicking Vinicius in the back.
“The general difference between Vini and other players is obvious,” Mourinho said. “He has fallen into a spiral; opponents feel they can get away with it, so they do.
“It’s like small children—they push the boundaries as far as you let them. I don’t like the way he is treated. He was kicked in a way that constituted an assault; it should have been a sending off.
“Aside from a few things, I actually liked the officiating. I can understand the referee not seeing the kick on Vinicius that warranted a red card. I gather the fourth official chose not to intervene. And regarding VAR, I’d say they didn’t do their job very well.
“But I have faith in Spanish officiating. I always do—even in the Champions League.”
The visit of Sociedad will mark Mourinho’s first game in the home dugout since a 4-2 win over Osasuna at the end of his first spell in June, 2013.
Mourinho does not desire any special welcome on his return, but called on the fans to show the team the love that was absent for much of a turbulent 2025-26 campaign.
“I don’t want the Bernabeu to welcome me in any particular way,” he added.
“I want it to welcome the team with its passion. That love was going through a difficult phase last season. I would like the team to feel something different from what it felt last season.”
