Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has urged winger Vinicius Jr to maintain emotional control amid persistent targeting by opponents and crowds. Speaking after his first competitive match of his second spell at the club, Mourinho revealed Vinicius Jr received a yellow card and faces provocation "from the first minute" in every game. "It's frustrating for him. He needs to have great emotional control," Mourinho said.

The Portuguese coach detailed a half-time conversation where he warned the Brazilian about celebrations potentially inciting crowd reactions. "If you score a goal, be careful how you celebrate it so I can keep you on the field," he told him.

Mourinho highlighted a societal contradiction: "We're in a social era of anti-bullying. With Vinicius Jr, we're still in the bullying era, whether it's from opponents or the crowd." He emphasized the need to "educate him as much as possible and prepare him as much as possible" to handle the ongoing hostility.