Real Madrid are preparing to travel to Valencia for their final match without Vinicius. The suspension handed to the forward following the match against Villarreal will come to an end after the game at Mestalla. José Mourinho has sent a clear message about how the Brazilian will fit into the team’s biggest LaLiga matches.
José Mourinho’s press conference at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex was filled with questions about Vinicius’ current situation. The Brazilian forward did not enjoy a particularly good performance in Greece in the UEFA Champions League. This weekend marks the final match of the suspension imposed by the CTA following the red card he received against Villarreal several weeks ago. For The Special One, Vinicius must earn his place in the starting lineup once again, particularly with Yan Diomande currently appearing untouchable.
“For me, the most important thing is the team. I have never deliberately wanted to harm the team to benefit a player. That question may have come up in the Champions League, but once things return to normal and Vinicius is available again, I will manage the situation. As a coach, I don't think only about one match at a time. I also think about the next game and the sequence of fixtures ahead. This last match was one where Vini could have played and given players like Arda, who had some physical problems, a rest. But I have to do everything possible to keep my players at the highest possible level,” Mourinho said amid the ongoing debate over who should occupy the team's left-wing position.
Since Vinicius was removed from Real Madrid’s starting lineup following his red card against Villarreal, Los Blancos have been flying on all fronts. Their most recent defeat came against Atlético Madrid several weeks ago. They have won all their UEFA Champions League matches and even managed to defeat LaLiga leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou. All of this has happened without the squad's second highest-paid player, who had been experiencing one of his lowest points in a Real Madrid shirt.
Mourinho also analyzed the Brazilian's recent substitutions in Champions League matches. Against both RB Leipzig and AEK Athens, Vinicius was the first player to be taken off, despite expectations that he would play the full 90 minutes to maintain his competitive rhythm. The Portuguese manager considers this a perfectly normal situation and believes his player must be the first to understand that he needs to earn his place in the starting eleven again.
“If it had been another player and not Vinicius, the Athens match would have been considered a normal game. Last year, Vinicius knocked me out of the Champions League, and there is nothing to do but keep working. His teammates' friendship, every single one of them without exception, and we are moving forward with everything we have and complete belief. But when it comes down to the crucial moment, when decisions have to be made, the team must come before any individual player,” Mourinho added, addressing what has become one of the hottest topics in Spanish football.
Vinicius will be eligible to return to LaLiga during the weekend of November 21 and 22. On Saturday, Real Madrid will host Celta Vigo in Matchday 13 of the competition. That will be the moment when we find out whether José Mourinho decides to restore him to the starting lineup. As things stand, Diomande has brought nothing but consistency and positive results for the Portuguese manager. The Special One has made it clear that no individual is above the collective right now.