Mourinho Defends Vinicius Call as Real Madrid Make It Three Wins From Three

Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig 4-1 to make it three wins from three in the Champions League, a result driven in part by substitute Yan Diomande, whose late introduction produced an immediate goal.

The most discussed moment of the night, however, was Jose Mourinho's decision to withdraw Vinicius Jr. before the final whistle. Asked afterwards whether the substitution was about managing his forward's workload with El Clasico approaching, Mourinho rejected the idea.

Mourinho on Vinicius

"The intention behind bringing on Diomande wasn't to think about El Clasico; it was to think about this squad and to know that we had a squad with plenty of pace," Mourinho said. "A fresh Diomande, brought on with 20–30 seconds to go, is hard to stop. Vini played a good game tactically for his manager. Vini defended very well. Then he had a chance to score a brilliant goal, but the goalkeeper made a great save."

Pressed on whether Vinicius looked unhappy at being substituted, Mourinho declined to speculate: "Whether he is or not is a very personal matter. I think you may have your own perception, but only he can say how he feels — or doesn't feel. I'm pleased with the match he's played."

Still finding his feet

Mourinho, 105 days into his spell in charge, also praised the performances of Arda Guler and Federico Valverde, noting that competitive matches remain the best way for him to learn his squad's strengths. With Barcelona next up domestically, Real Madrid's manager insisted his selection decisions are about the game in front of him rather than the one to come.