Mourinho defends Vinicius Jr in the crisis: 'I like him and I need him'
José Mourinho defended Vinicius Jr on the eve of the game with Racing Santander, when the Brazilian serves the fourth match of his ban, and said he likes him and needs him. The forward, who has signed until June 2032, has 11 games, one goal and three assists this season and returns on Wednesday (4) against AEK Athens.
Full text available in Portuguese only. Read the Portuguese version
José Mourinho usou a entrevista coletiva deste sábado (31) para defender Vinicius Jr. e reforçar sua importância em meio à crise do atacante no Real Madrid. A fala veio na véspera do duelo com o Racing Santander, marcado para domingo (1º) pelo Espanhol — partida em que o brasileiro, suspenso, não atua.
Vini pega quatro partidas de suspensão desde a expulsão contra o Villarreal, neste mês. De fora, acompanha Yan Diomande ocupando a ponta esquerda.
"Não tenho um time titular fixo. O time titular de hoje pode ser diferente daqui a algumas semanas. O futebol de hoje não é o de 20 anos atrás; é mais intenso, mais rápido", afirmou o treinador. Em seguida, resumiu a situação do atacante: ele não joga o Espanhol, mas joga a Champions. "E eu gosto dele, gosto muito dele. Quero que essa suspensão acabe logo, porque gosto dele e preciso dele."
O português negou que o camisa 7 seja um problema: "Não estou dizendo que ele vai ser titular, mas também não será um problema. É um grande jogador que vamos ter em um elenco muito bom."
Mourinho já havia defendido a permanência dele ao assumir o clube, e o atacante renovou até junho de 2032. Nesta temporada são 11 jogos, um gol e três assistências. Sem ele, o Real venceu Sevilla e Barcelona, com Diomande marcando e dando assistência no primeiro desses jogos.
Vini volta a campo pelo Real na quarta-feira (4), contra o AEK Atenas, no Estádio Agia Sofia, a partir das 14h45 (de Brasília), pela Champions League.
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