The Portuguese coach of Real Madrid, José Mourinho, has spoken out about the controversial suspension of Vinicius Júnior, who after his expulsion in the match against Villarreal has been fined four games. In the press conference prior to the match against Sevilla, Mourinho explained that managing the Brazilian's absence will be simple, as he considers Vinicius a “spectacular boy” and that his future will focus on working more than playing each game.
Vinicius, who has shown an irregular performance this season, was sent off on the last day for pulling Saliba's hair and for a protest against referee Isidro Díaz de Mera. The sanction imposed will prevent him from participating in any national competition until the next national team break, leaving him available only for the Champions League.
During the conference, Mourinho showed some irony by stating that he was “happy with the sanction” because he hoped the player would receive more games. He commented that his goal is for Vinicius to start again on Wednesday and that the suspension will give him time to improve his discipline and performance. The coach also highlighted that the federation's decision was not taken lightly and that the club agrees with the measure.
Real Madrid will continue with its season strategy, keeping Vinicius on the list of players available only for the Champions League. The team's next match will be against Sevilla, where the coach hopes that the Brazilian can return to the field, although with the limitation of not being able to participate in league competitions. The departure of Vinicius from the squad for the national season will mark a challenge for the coaching staff, which will have to reorganize its lineup and look for alternatives in the center of the attack.