Jose Mourinho's demeanor at Real Madrid has intensified as pressure mounts on the 63-year-old manager. The team's recent victory over Roma, while securing a win, did little to quell concerns about their inconsistent play. Real Madrid currently trails rivals Barcelona by six points in La Liga.
Mourinho has appeared to adopt a combative stance, engaging in public disputes to divert attention from the team's struggles. Spanish media have described a 'blacklist' of grievances encompassing La Liga's administration, officiating, and even Real Madrid's own supporters.
A significant point of contention for Mourinho was the timing of a four-game suspension issued to player Vinicius Jr. for a hair-pull incident. The disciplinary committee announced the ban just two hours before the team's match in Rome. Mourinho expressed his frustration, questioning the fairness and timing of the announcement, suggesting it was deliberately provocative and intended to unsettle the player and the team.
"You're the journalist, but... can I ask you a question? Do you think it's normal that a player from a Spanish team, who has to play a match that's also important for Spanish football... Do you think it's normal that two hours before a match, a player finds out he's been given a four-match suspension?" Mourinho stated at the post-match press conference. He further elaborated, "In Portuguese there’s an expression, 'a cat hiding with its tail sticking out.'"
Mourinho also voiced displeasure regarding the team's schedule, specifically highlighting the tight turnaround of just 72 hours between matches in November before an international break. He criticized the scheduling of a difficult match against Valencia on a Saturday, preceding the break, deeming it an act that lacked respect and was not coincidental.
"I don’t buy the same old excuses. I’ve been involved in football for 25 years. The excuses about ‘the TV’ — that 'it was the TV that decided, it was the TV that chose Saturday for the match.' I’m too old to swallow this," he said. He also reiterated his frustration with the Vinicius Jr. suspension timing, adding, "Real Madrid fans aren’t stupid, and I’ll do everything I can to open people’s eyes."
Earlier, Mourinho had also criticized the Spanish media, suggesting their reporting contributed to Real Madrid fans booing Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. during recent matches. He implied that such media coverage served the objective of creating internal discord within the club.