Mourinho defends Real superstar Mbappe after Tour de Suisse comparison
At the press conference on Friday, Jose Mourinho was the focus as he defended Real‑superstar Kylian Mbappe and called the debate about his behaviour “ridiculous”. He drew a comparison to a “Tour de Suisse”. The remarks were made ahead of the upcoming match against FC Villarreal at 9 p.m.
Mbappe had only featured in the first of four Nations‑League matches for the French national team. In the game against Turkey, the 27‑year‑old striker scored the 1:0 and suffered an overstretch of the posterior capsule of his left knee. The injury forced him to leave the team camp and spend the remainder of the international window in rehabilitation.
Mourinho's clear words on the criticism
Following the match reports, Mourinho said that the ongoing discussion about Mbappe’s behaviour was “ridiculous”. He explained the Instagram‑clip in which Mbappe was cycling in Switzerland, saying: “He was in a hotel made up of small houses… You get the impression that he did a Tour de Suisse.”
The coach also addressed the Real‑fans and promised that Mbappe would feature in the upcoming Saturday match against Villarreal. Should there be whistles against the striker, Mourinho called it “a win for you” and emphasized that misconduct carries consequences.
Off‑field events and season start
A photo of Mbappe at a party in Paris with his partner Ester Exposito went viral, as did his Instagram posts of cycling in Switzerland, even though Mourinho had explicitly prohibited cycling beforehand. These scenes sparked confusion among many Real fans and allegedly also among some officials.
On the sporting side, Mbappe delivered a strong start to the season: in the first eight league matches he scored eight goals and provided two assists. Despite this performance, Real Madrid have already made two blunders in the Primera División and therefore sit six points behind the still flawless arch‑rival FC Barcelona.
Mourinho’s clear message to players and fans underscores that fairness and a sense of duty are top priorities at Real Madrid. His approach could shape future expectations regarding the conduct of top stars.