Mourinho wants another Vinicius out of the Bernabéu

Real Madrid will make up the postponed opening matchday after having several World Cup players until the end. They will do so against Real Sociedad (Wednesday, 9:00 p.m.) in what will be José Mourinho's return to the Bernabéu as Real Madrid coach. The manager spoke to the media beforehand, where he talked about Vinicius, Tchouaméni's absence, refereeing treatment, and his personality at this stage.

Match against Real Sociedad : "First home match, but it is one of 19. Every point is important. The objective is to win while respecting a team that deserves to be respected. With identity and great players. They will make it a difficult match for us. Against Espanyol we noticed the support of the opposing fans for their team, and tomorrow we expect that from our fans. What I expect is for the team to have the same hunger to win, attitude, resilience, strength, and calm. I hope the fans can recognize that."

Players' fitness level : "Espanyol showed up with a level of intensity that we don't have. We have a basic structure with people who have been working together longer. Playing speeds up this process of reaching normal fitness. The players have to play, for example Cucurella. We use objective data, scientific data, and we mix it with my experience. The feeling is also important."

Return to the Bernabéu : "I don't want the Bernabéu to welcome me in any particular way. I want it to welcome the team with its passion. At one point that love was going through a difficult phase last season. Now we are not starting from zero. I am not important. I am capable of controlling my emotions and playing normally in a match that is not normal because it is worth three points. I would like the team to feel something different from what it felt last season".

Refereeing and possible differential treatment : "Last year I didn't watch every match of both of them, so I can't tell you much. What I can say is that Vini's overall difference compared to other players is obvious. He has entered a spiral, opponents feel they can do it and they do it. It's like little children, who go as far as you allow them to go. It's treatment I don't like. He was kicked in a way that is an assault, it was a sending-off. Apart from some things, I really liked the refereeing. That red card for the kick on Vinicius, I understand that the referee didn't see it. I understand that the fourth official didn't want to. And from VAR I can say that it didn't do its job very well. But I trust Spanish refereeing. I always trust it, in the Champions League too. I don't think something like 'he's friends with Negreira,' no. They have had decisions that have influenced results, but it happens".

Vinicius's spiral and what may change in him: "There is on the pitch and off the pitch. The reaction, if it is not homophobic or racist, I think he can control it and improve. The play, the kicks and the penalties, are the responsibility of the referee. I prefer to say judge rather than referee in this case. With the personality I have, if they did that to me, maybe it's a red card for me (laughs). His relationship with hostile stadiums is something we can work on".

Does he look calmer?: "It's not just now, but I feel calmer and I control my emotions better. Difficult situations will come. I haven't seen lazy people, I like them to work for Real Madrid. Maybe it's also because the players and the people who work here are protecting me from the dark side of my personality (laughs)."

Squad : "For me it is closed, but the market is open. You never know if a player is going to come and tell you that he wants to leave. In principle no, but it is something that can happen. In my head it is closed and I have no requests. I am happy. If any leave, I would still be happy".

Tactical fit between Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbappé : "The most complicated thing won’t be for me, because that’s when you don’t have top players or an injury that prevents you from having high-level players. I don’t want to open up too much for the opponents, only after playing and losing. I want all three, and the positive always outweighs everything else. I am also here to try to help."

Where does Valverde fit in? : "Out of necessity, there have been coaches who have made him play as a right-back. For me, he is a midfield player. Then, depending on the objectives and the opponent, he can be more positional or not. Teams must have solutions. A full-back is a full-back, but today he can be a winger. Or like Trent, who can play on the inside. I don't want to assign them a number; things get blurred during matches".

Carlos Espí and Mbappé : "We can see them together. Our development as a team, in preseason, we did it with Endrick. Espí is a different profile. The other day Espanyol were sitting deep and Kylian was trying to drop back for the individual play. That's when I thought Carlos could be important. He also increases the quality with Trent and a 'giant' in the box".

Tchouaméni and his absence : "He has suffered a lot at the World Cup, as is normal. He has not played a couple of matches, but he did play in the semifinal. He has a problem and the vacation period has not been enough. The player wants to try, he tried, but we have decided that he cannot start the season suffering".

Start packed with matches : "It doesn't seem unfair to me. I have to thank the League for having common sense because they delayed it by one more week, it would have been a problem. If we have this congestion, it's because of something that has been positive. We have to play with three matches a week. If any player suffers more, he doesn't play and another one does."

' Endrick and his injury : "I can't tell you. There is a problem in the muscle and it affects the tendon. He is a player I like a lot and he has had many approaches from other clubs. I have wanted him and that is why I have not loaned or sold him. I am not sure he will make the first squad list with Ancelotti, but Carlo is my friend and he will call me directly".'