Benfica head coach José Mourinho was critical of Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr, in the aftermath of the meeting between the two sides.
Real Madrid are of course fresh off an important victory on Tuesday night.
After making the trip to Lisbon for a Champions League clash with the aforementioned Benfica, Los Blancos emerged on the right side of a 1-0 result.
Vinícius Jr. proved himself difference-maker on the evening, notching the game’s only goal in spectacular fashion.
From here, however, the atmosphere inside the Estádio da Luz quickly took a turn for the worse.
After Vinícius celebrated his goal with a dance at the corner flag, Benfica’s fans and players alike turned on the 25-year-old.
So hostile did the situation become that proceedings were brought to a temporary halt after Vini informed the team of officials that he had been racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni.
Speaking to the media post-match, it therefore came as little surprise when the name of Real Madrid’s attacking star was put to ex-Blancos headmaster José Mourinho.
And the Portuguese made use of the opportunity to reveal his frustration with Vinícius, in explaining:
“When it happens in so many stadiums, always with the same, there is something wrong. I told Vini: you scored a wonder goal, why did you celebrate like that? Why can’t you celebrate a goal with just the happiness of being a great player?
”Why didn’t Vini celebrate like Di Stefano, Pelé or Eusebio? You score that super goal and then… why? This is always happening with him. This is the only thing I’m not understanding.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
