According to a report published by GOAL on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has explained how he manages Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, revealing that his approach combines patience, understanding and firmness when dealing with the winger.

The Portuguese manager shared details of his relationship with Vinicius following Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. During his interaction with journalists, Mourinho was asked whether he preferred using a gentle or strict approach when managing the Brazilian forward.

In response, the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager explained that he generally prefers to handle Vinicius with patience but does not hesitate to become firm when necessary.

Mourinho described his approach using a percentage, saying he currently applies 80 per cent of a gentle approach and 20 per cent of a firmer one. His explanation offered an insight into how he balances personal understanding with discipline while managing one of Real Madrid’s most important attacking players.

The manager also assessed Vinicius’ performance against AEK Athens, describing his display as acceptable. Although he admitted that the Brazilian did not produce an extraordinary performance, he defended the forward by pointing out that the entire team also had a difficult evening.

According to Mourinho, Vinicius performed well within the team’s overall level and contributed to the contest despite the challenges faced by Real Madrid.

The Portuguese tactician also addressed questions about the attacking arrangement involving Yan Diomande. He explained that Diomande was brought to the Spanish capital because of his ability to operate on both wings rather than being restricted to one position.

Mourinho dismissed suggestions that Vinicius had created problems because of Diomande’s position, insisting that both players have different qualities and can offer different options in attack.

He further explained that his substitutions during the Champions League encounter were influenced by preparations for Real Madrid’s next league fixture. Mourinho revealed that withdrawing Diomande instead of Vinicius, as well as replacing Bernardo Silva with Eduardo Camavinga, was partly connected to his plans for the upcoming match.

Real Madrid will now shift their attention to Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Valencia at the Mestalla. The team will be hoping to secure another important result as they continue their efforts to remain competitive in the Spanish league.