Jose Mourinho defends Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr after supporter booing

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has defended Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr following jeers from home supporters at the Bernabeu. The manager compared the two players to fruit trees, suggesting that high-performing athletes are the primary targets for public criticism. Kylian Mbappe, who recently moved into the top five of the all-time Champions League scoring list, provided the opening goal in a 2-1 victory against Inter Milan on Tuesday. Despite his performance, both players faced negative reactions from the crowd during the match. Experts noted that fan frustration may stem from a lack of recent trophies and the perceived cold demeanor of some stars. Mourinho praised the defensive work rate of his players and dismissed concerns over their contribution to the squad.

• 4:18 PMYahoo Sports — Mourinho: Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé are ‘trees that bear fruit’
• 1:22 PMBBC Football — Mourinho compares Mbappe and Vini Jr to fruit trees after boos