According to a report by GOAL on Friday November 6, 2026, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has sent a strong message regarding Vinicius Junior's role in the team, insisting that collective success will always come before the interests of any individual player.

Mourinho made the remarks while discussing his management of the Brazilian forward and the importance of squad rotation as Real Madrid navigate a demanding schedule across different competitions.

Vinicius featured in Real Madrid's 3-2 Champions League victory over AEK Athens, with Mourinho explaining that the match also provided an opportunity to rest other players, including Arda Guler, who had been experiencing some fitness issues.

The Portuguese tactician stressed that his decisions would always be based on what benefits the team rather than giving special treatment to individual footballers.

"For me, the most important thing is the team. Never by my own will would I harm the team to benefit a player," Mourinho said.

The Real Madrid manager added that he would continue to manage Vinicius carefully when the squad returns to normal availability, taking into consideration the sequence of upcoming fixtures.

Mourinho also defended the Brazilian's performance against AEK Athens, explaining that the forward should not be judged solely by the exceptionally high standards he has established throughout his career.

"A bad player will always be bad no matter how much you try to improve them. A good one has their bad moments but leaves the door open to return to their normal state," he stated.

He further explained that Vinicius had delivered a good performance in Athens, even though it was not an outstanding display.

According to Mourinho, the expectations surrounding the Brazilian are considerably higher because supporters have become accustomed to seeing him produce exceptional performances, particularly in important Champions League matches.

"The game that Vini Jr. played in Athens—if it wasn’t Vini Jr. but a regular player—we’d all say he had a good game. Not incredible because his team didn’t play incredibly," he added.

Mourinho also expressed confidence that Vinicius could rediscover the level that made him one of the most dangerous attacking players in European football.

He pointed to the strong relationship between the Brazilian and his teammates, revealing that the forward continues to enjoy the support of everyone in the dressing room.

"Something important is the friendship of his teammates, without exception," Mourinho said.

The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Roma manager concluded by reiterating that no player would be allowed to become more important than the team's objectives.