Mourinho says Vin铆cius J煤nior is unfairly targeted but wants him to manage his emotions better

MADRID (AP) 鈥� Jos茅 Mourinho, once known for his fiery personality and frequent touchline outbursts, wants to help Vin铆cius J煤nior control his emotions better.

Mourinho, looking much calmer at the start of his second stint as Real Madrid coach, said Tuesday that he thinks Vin铆cius is being unfairly targeted, but the star forward can do better when reacting to provocations.

The Brazilian was involved in several incidents with opposing fans and players in the team’s at Espanyol on Saturday. Madrid hosts Real Sociedad for its second match on Wednesday.

鈥淭here is on the field and off the field,鈥� Mourinho said. 鈥淭he reaction to fans and insults, obviously if they are not racist or homophobic insults, but the typical insults by fans, then I think he can control it better. His relationship with the opposing fans, I think he can do better. In the game, when it comes to the fouls and the accumulation of frustration that he feels, that鈥檚 the responsibility of the referees, or the judges, as I like to call them, in terms of their responsibility to protect the players and the game.鈥�

Mourinho said it’s harder to help Vin铆cius when it comes to the in-game incidents, but when it’s about his relationship with the opposing fans, then 鈥渋t’s something that we can work on.鈥�

Last year, Mourinho was criticized for attacking Vin铆cius’ character after the player during a Champions League match against Benfica. The coach in charge of Benfica at the time suggested that the Brazil forward incited opposing players with his celebrations after scoring.

鈥淲hen I was Benfica’s coach, I was only interested about Benfica,鈥� Mourinho said Tuesday.

The veteran Portuguese coach said it’s become obvious the difference in the treatment on the field toward Vin铆cius and toward other players.

鈥淚t’s gone into a spiral in which the opponents know what they can do and what they can’t do,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f the players can provoke and pressure Vini, either physically or with words, if the yellow card is only shown after 10 fouls, if there can be violence, then it鈥檚 a type of treatment that I don鈥檛 like.鈥�

Mourinho, after a stint at the club from 2010 to 2013, said he would likely be quickly sent off if he was in Vin铆cius’ shoes in some of the situations that he faces.

The coach noted, though, that his own behavior has changed significantly over the years and is not as fiery as he once was.

鈥淚’m think I’m calmer,鈥� Mourinho said. 鈥淎nd it’s not just now, I’ve been like that over the last few years. I feel calmer, with more control of my emotions.鈥�

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