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Thiago Pitarch defends Mbappe and Vinicius amid criticism at Real Madrid

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 6:20 AM

Last updated Jun 19, 2026

Thiago Pitarch defends Mbappe and Vinicius amid criticism at Real Madrid

Summary

Thiago Pitarch, a young midfielder for Real Madrid, has defended teammates Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. in response to ongoing criticism regarding their lack of chemistry and scoring impact. Pitarch highlighted their importance to the team, mentioning Mbappe's 40 goals last season and Vinicius' game-winning contributions. With Jose Mourinho now at the helm as the new manager, the club is looking to rebuild its attacking dynamics, following a season that revealed significant gaps in the forward line. Pitarch expressed confidence in the duo's potential and emphasized Mourinho's historic coaching background, suggesting a promising future for Real Madrid under his leadership.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Pitarch defends Mbappe and Vinicius against criticism over their performance.
•He emphasizes Mbappe's goal tally and Vinicius' contributions last season.
•Jose Mourinho is introduced as the new manager for Real Madrid.
•Pitarch believes in the duo's impact during training.
•The club seeks to address weaknesses in its attack this summer.

Latest Updates

6:20 AMYahoo Sports — Thiago Pitarch backs star Real Madrid attacking duo amid criticism: ‘Impacted me most in training’

What they're saying

"
Most of Real Madrid’s completed and rumoured moves this summer revolve around the defence and the midfield – two departments that were clearly seen to need change.The attack also had a lot of hole...
— Yahoo Sports

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