José Mourinho has disclosed the way how he has been handling the stars of Real Madrid Football Club, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr., asserting that these players do not require a coach who has fear of their significance.
The Portuguese coach is back in Santiago Bernabéu, and straightaway had to deal with one of the main serious topics in relation to the Madrid squad.
He had to discover how to get Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. playing to the best of their own abilities and make them learn how to behave on the pitch. Previously all Real Madrid managers including Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa couldn't handle this situation.
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The two players have attracted attention previously in respect of their on-pitch chemistry, raising questions about their position, decisions, and willingness to take responsibility in the last third of the play.
Mourinho’s Approach To Mbappe And Vinicius
Mourinho has made it clear that he does not want to control his star players by constantly interfering with their personalities. Instead, he wants them to understand their responsibilities and deliver on the pitch.
The Portuguese coach explained his philosophy in a typically direct fashion. “They are not children. They are two killers who want the ball, the goal, and the spotlight. That is normal.”
Mourinho believes the real problem emerges when a manager treats two stars differently. “The problem starts when the coach becomes a fan of one and a policeman of the other.”
For the Real Madrid boss, neither Mbappe nor Vinicius needs preferential treatment. Both players need clear responsibilities and the freedom to express their extraordinary attacking qualities.
“I don’t bend players. I give them a job. If they do the job, they play. If they don’t, they watch,” he explained.
Mbappe And Vini Jr Showing Better Understanding
Rather than allowing the presence of two superstar forwards to become a tactical problem, Mourinho has focused on making their qualities complementary.
The manager recently highlighted the connection between Vinicius, Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, insisting that he sees empathy and collective work between the players. He even pointed to a recent example where Vinicius chose to pass rather than attempt to score himself.
Mourinho also praised Mbappe after Real Madrid's victory over Real Sociedad, describing the Frenchman as an incredible player with a huge desire to make history at the club.
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His message is therefore clear that Real Madrid's biggest stars do not have to compete against each other for the spotlight if their individual ambitions can be channeled towards the team's success.
“Vinícius and Mbappé don’t need a friend. They need a manager who is not afraid of their names. The rest is noise,” he concluded.
The early signs of Mourinho's second spell at Real Madrid have been extremely encouraging.
Los Blancos have won all three of their opening La Liga matches and head into their meeting with Real Betis looking to maintain their perfect start. Their latest league outing ended in a commanding 4-0 victory over Malaga.