M

What Mourinho is doing with him is what will probably help Madrid. He’s trying to bring him back to form. It’s not that he’s trying to bench him, as some people are thinking. When the going gets tough, you need your best players. Mourinho understands that, and that’s exactly what he’s doing for Vini. He’s prepping him. He needs Vini to pick his form back up. You can’t compare a fit and in form Vini to anyone in that Madrid team other than Mbappe. He’s capable of winning games on his own. That’s why you see Mourinho protecting him like this and giving him all the love. Mourinho knows the kind of player he has in Vinicius. He understands that Madrid will need him firing on all cylinders if they want to compete for the UCL. You don’t discard a player of that quality because he’s going through a difficult period, you invest in getting him back to his best. That’s what he’s doing now. I’m with you in your tough times, be with me too when I need you. And players like Vini, they will return it if you believe in them. Vinicius is a player who thrives on confidence. When he’s enjoying his football, taking defenders on, attacking spaces and playing without fear, he’s almost impossible to contain. Mourinho is trying to get that version of him back. He’s creating an environment where Vini feels trusted, protected and important to the team, rather than making him feel like he’s constantly fighting for his place. He’s not protecting Vinicius because he’s untouchable. He’s protecting him because he knows how important he is to Madrid’s ambitions. When the biggest games arrive, Madrid will need a fully confident Vinicius, not a player whose confidence has been destroyed because his manager couldn’t manage him through a difficult spell.