Jose Mourinho defends Vinicius Junior amid ongoing La Liga targeting

Jose Mourinho has taken a firm stance regarding Vinicius Junior's treatment in La Liga, asserting his commitment to protect the player from excessive fouling. The Brazilian forward has faced persistent criticism and targeted fouls from opponents, which Mourinho believes detracts from his performance. Following a recent match against Espanyol, Mourinho emphasized the need for Vinicius to demonstrate greater emotional control, indicating he will support him publicly while also holding him accountable behind the scenes. This approach aims to strike a balance between defending Vinicius and managing his fiery temperament as part of Mourinho's project at Real Madrid.

• 10:10 AMYahoo Sports — Jose Mourinho won’t allow Brazilian superstar to harm Real Madrid’s interests