According to a report by GOAL on Thursday October 22, 2026, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and forward Kylian Mbappe have defended Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian winger was jeered by supporters during the club's 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Vinicius is enduring a difficult spell in front of goal, having failed to score in his last nine appearances for Real Madrid. The forward was substituted in the 70th minute against Leipzig, with sections of the home crowd expressing their frustration.

The 26-year-old has managed just one goal and three assists in 11 appearances this season, adding to the pressure on him as Real Madrid prepare for Sunday's El Clasico against Barcelona.

Mourinho acknowledged that being criticised by your own supporters can be particularly painful, even for an experienced player.

“When you are on the pitch and you are whistled when playing away, often it's a boost to your motivation. When it's at home, it hurts,” Mourinho said, as quoted by ESPN.

Despite Vinicius' ongoing goal drought, the Real Madrid manager was satisfied with his overall contribution against the German side, highlighting his defensive work and tactical discipline.

“Vini put in a good tactical performance. Vini defended very well. He then had a chance to score a brilliant goal, but the goalkeeper made a great save,” Mourinho added.

Mbappe also came to the defence of his team-mate after delivering an impressive performance against Leipzig, scoring a goal and providing an assist to earn the match's Most Valuable Player award.

The French international believes Vinicius' frustration is a reflection of his determination to help Real Madrid succeed rather than a sign that he is struggling to cope with the pressure.

“He's doing well,” Mbappe said after the match.

“It's good that he's upset because it means he wants to give a lot to the team and the fans. I think he just needs to stay calm and proud of who he is. A great player must always take pride in who they are and gain confidence because the quality is there.”

Vinicius will now have to wait for another opportunity to respond to his critics, as he is set to miss Sunday's El Clasico against Barcelona because of a four-match La Liga suspension.

The Brazilian is also expected to be unavailable for Real Madrid's subsequent domestic fixtures against Racing Santander and Valencia, leaving Mourinho without one of his key attacking options during a crucial period.