"Meritocracy, yes, but you also have to be open," Jose Mourinho said ahead of the clash with Villarreal. He argued that some players need time to return to their usual level, and that Vinicius Junior should be supported rather than judged only by his name. The Real Madrid winger's numbers explain why the debate has grown louder: 7 La Liga appearances, 1 goal and 3 assists this season.
Mourinho's case for patience
The strongest part of Mourinho's argument is not complicated. He said some players need different strategies when form drops, and he openly suggested that help can mean more than simply leaving a player to sink or swim. "You have to know what is the best way to help a player," he said.
He also made the human side of it clear, saying Vinicius wants to become the player who decides matches again. That sits alongside a run that has been modest by his own standards, with a recent 6.15 rating in his latest La Liga outing.
Real Madrid's pressure before Saturday
Real Madrid come into Real Madrid vs Villarreal 4th in La Liga and 6 points behind Barcelona, which is enough to keep every poor display under a brighter light than usual. Their recent league and European results read mixed as well, with the sequence of LWWLW adding to the scrutiny.
Villarreal are not arriving just to make up the numbers. They sit 9th, have scored 13 goals and conceded 12, and Álvaro Carreras said they are "a very dangerous team, they play the ball well, and they’re fast". Pape Gueye echoed that confidence, calling it an "important and complicated match" and saying Villarreal have to play their own football.
Mourinho's point still feels like the more relevant one here. Vinicius has not disappeared, but his return of 1 goal and 3 assists from 7 league appearances is exactly the sort of patch that invites questions in Madrid. The fixture is set for Saturday, 10 October, and it should tell us more about the team than about one player's name.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
