Mourinho lashes out at critics as Mbappé prepares for Villarreal clash
In the bright training ground of the Ciudad Real Madrid complex, José Mourinho watched Kylian Mbappé lace up his boots, ready to face Villarreal on Saturday. The French striker, fresh from a knee injury sustained with the Bleus during the international break, appeared untroubled as the Portuguese coach prepared his defence against the media's relentless scrutiny.
Mourinho defends Mbappé amid media storm
On Friday, Mourinho took to the press and publicly defended Mbappé, calling the barrage of criticism "ridiculous". He said the attacks on the French forward during the international break were unwarranted and that the player deserved support.
The Real Madrid manager also remarked, "Apparently his case is more important than that of Manchester City or the difficult situation in my country with Cristiano Ronaldo and his selector," after being asked about the striker.
He added, "There are so many subjects that could feed your work but you always have to talk about Real Madrid," underscoring his frustration with the focus on the club.
Mbappé ready for Villarreal after injury
Mbappé was injured in the first match of the Bleus during the international break, but he quickly returned to Madrid for treatment. He has already rejoined collective training and is expected to start the eighth‑round La Liga fixture against Villarreal on Saturday.
Mbappé under fire in Madrid: the crisis intensifies despite criticism
Despite the setback, the striker has scored eight goals in as many appearances across all competitions, demonstrating his effectiveness for the Merengues.
Mourinho explained the medical process, saying, "He came here, was diagnosed and consulted an external specialist because his knee has a history that must not be neglected. The diagnoses matched perfectly and a recovery programme was set up without needing to know the details."
The coach also criticised the media for inventing problems, noting that the night out in Paris was a private venue for Fashion Week and the bike episode in Switzerland was merely a means of moving around the hotel, not a participation in the Tour de Suisse.
He warned that any Real Madrid player who fails to meet obligations will not be on the bench, stating, "Mbappé will play, he has not missed his duties to Real Madrid." Mourinho also addressed the possibility of Bernabéu fans whistling, saying it is a goal for some but hoping the stadium will act fairly and intelligently.