Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has warned Vinicius Junior and the club’s other big-name players that their status will not guarantee them a place in the team, insisting that performances on the pitch must determine selection.
Mourinho issued the warning on Tuesday ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on Wednesday, as Vinicius faces competition from in-form Ivorian winger Yan Diomande.
Vinicius has struggled for form this season and is serving a four-match La Liga suspension for hair-pulling. However, he remains available for the European fixture.
Diomande, Madrid’s record €140 million signing, has impressed in recent weeks and scored against Sevilla on Sunday when Vinicius was absent.
Asked whether Vinicius risked losing his place because of Diomande’s form, Mourinho made it clear that no player enjoyed special treatment.
“Only the club badge is untouchable,” he told reporters.
“I don’t like the concept of untouchable players.
“What makes a player untouchable is not his status, the armband, his years at the club, how much was paid for him, what makes him untouchable is his performance on the pitch.”
Mourinho confirmed that Vinicius would start on the left wing against Leipzig but said he had yet to inform Diomande whether he would also feature from the start.
Madrid will be seeking a third consecutive victory in the Champions League league phase when they host the Bundesliga side.
However, their domestic campaign has been less convincing, with the club sitting third in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona ahead of Sunday’s meeting between the sides.
The Portuguese coach admitted that his team still had considerable work to do before reaching the standard he expects.
“A long way off… we’ve been here three or four months, it’s impossible to be where we want to be,” he said.
“We always have to improve, be it individually or collectively… I understand the demands (at this club) are the maximum.
“I’ve been here three years (2010-2013), and so I know perfectly well how things are. I can’t lose my direction… (even though) I know there is a lot of work to do.”
Meanwhile, French defender Ibrahima Konate praised Mourinho’s authority and ability to command respect from his players.
“He’s a great manager, I think he has this aura that not many managers have, because he doesn’t need to speak and everyone will listen and respect him,” Konate told reporters.
—By Goli Innocent
