Jose Mourinho, manager of Real Madrid, has emphasized that winger Vinicius Jr. must develop greater emotional control to navigate instances where he is subjected to targeted play and provocation from opposing players and spectators. Mourinho noted that opponents consistently seek to elicit a reaction from the Brazilian player from the outset of matches.
"It's frustrating for him. He needs to have great emotional control," Mourinho stated. He explained that after receiving a yellow card in his first competitive match of Mourinho's second tenure with Real Madrid, he advised Vinicius Jr. on how his on-field actions could incite reactions from the stands.
Mourinho shared details of a half-time conversation with the player, saying, "I spoke to him at half-time, and I even told him in detail: 'If you score a goal, be careful how you celebrate it so I can keep you on the field.' It's tough."
The manager drew a parallel between contemporary social attitudes and the treatment of the player, commenting, "We're in a social era of anti-bullying. With Vini Jr, we're still in the bullying era, whether it's from opponents or the crowd."
He concluded by highlighting the club's responsibility in player development. "We need to educate him as much as possible and prepare him as much as possible. And that's it."