Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has launched a strong defence of Kylian Mbappe, describing the criticism surrounding the French forward as “ridiculous” and suggesting that some journalists are attempting to turn supporters against the player.
Mourinho addressed the controversy at a press conference on Friday ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Villarreal on Saturday, insisting that the attention given to Mbappe’s activities away from football had been exaggerated.
The Frenchman has faced scrutiny since leaving the France national team camp during the recent international break because of a knee injury. His subsequent appearance cycling in the Swiss Alps and his outing with Spanish actress Ester Expósito have generated further debate in the Spanish media.
Reports have also suggested that Mourinho reprimanded the forward over his recent activities. However, the Portuguese coach rejected the negative narrative surrounding the player and defended the decisions taken during his recovery.
Mourinho explains Mbappe’s injury management
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Mourinho said Mbappe had returned to Real Madrid’s training base at Valdebebas following his injury, where he underwent medical examinations before seeking an additional external medical opinion.
“The Special One,” said the Spanish newspaper AS , “ was here in Valdebebas after his injury, underwent medical examinations, and then went for an external medical consultation, because his knee has a history of injuries that cannot be ignored. There was complete agreement between the results of the medical diagnoses. We have a recovery plan, but you don’t need to know its exact details.”
Mourinho indicated that the medical assessments had produced consistent findings and that the club had established a recovery programme for the forward.
He then criticised the attention surrounding Mbappe’s activities, arguing that the media had continued searching for controversy even after the player’s injury situation had been addressed.
He added: “After that, the search for problems regarding Mbappe began. It seems that the real problems that football has faced during the past two weeks are no longer enough, so there is a search for new problems. At first, you talked about a nightclub, even though it was not a nightclub at all, but a place designated for holding a special event within Paris Fashion Week.”
The Real Madrid manager also challenged the reports concerning Mbappe’s cycling activities in Switzerland, explaining that the circumstances had been misrepresented.
He added: “Then came the story of the bicycle in Switzerland, where the player was staying in a hotel consisting of small houses, and the bicycles were for moving between the common facilities within a hotel that provided a quiet atmosphere. But it seemed as if he was participating in the Tour de Suisse cycling race.”
Mourinho suggests attempts to turn fans against Mbappe
The Portuguese coach went further by questioning whether the coverage was intended to damage the relationship between Mbappe and Real Madrid supporters.
Mourinho suggested that the attention surrounding the forward’s private activities could influence the attitude of fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, while urging supporters to consider the motives behind the reports.
“Would I understand the annoyance of a segment of Real Madrid fans with Mbappe? That is one of your goals, and you don’t need to be Einstein to understand that. There are certain goals you are trying to achieve, and it is better not to talk about some of them, because I might be wrong, but they are still among those goals.”
He stopped short of directly criticising Real Madrid supporters, saying he respected their views but wanted them to assess the situation fairly.
Mourinho added: “As for the Santiago Bernabéu fans, I will not comment on their position, as I respect them. All I hope is that the Bernabéu fans can be fair, because fairness means being intelligent, reading between the lines, understanding the nature of things and their motives, and realizing the goals behind them.”
His comments highlighted his frustration with the continued attention on Mbappe, whose conduct away from the pitch has become a subject of discussion during his recovery from injury.
Mourinho insists Mbappe will continue to play
Mourinho also made it clear that he had no concerns about Mbappe’s commitment to Real Madrid, insisting that the club would not tolerate players who failed to meet their professional responsibilities.
He said any player who did not fulfil the obligations associated with representing the club would face consequences that went beyond being left out of the starting line-up.
“I assure you that if any Real Madrid player does not behave in accordance with his status as a player at this club, or fails to fulfill his duties as a player or as a citizen, you will not see that player sitting on the bench, and you will not have the opportunity to boo him, because he will be at home, and I will not give him the opportunity to sit on the bench in the first place. Mbappe will play, and he will not even be on the bench. I am sure that he has not failed in his duties towards Real Madrid.”
The coach’s remarks amounted to a firm show of support for the France international, while dismissing suggestions that the recent controversy had undermined his position within the squad.
Real Madrid prepare for difficult Villarreal test
Away from the debate surrounding Mbappe, Mourinho acknowledged that Saturday’s match against Villarreal would present a significant challenge.
He described their opponents as a strong team competing at a high level and participating in the Champions League.
The Real Madrid manager also admitted that preparations had been complicated by the recent international break, during which a large number of his players travelled to represent their respective national teams.
With the Villarreal fixture approaching, Mourinho’s immediate focus will be on preparing his squad for the match, while his comments have made clear that he intends to stand by Mbappe amid the growing scrutiny surrounding the forward.
