Vinicius records nine ball recoveries against Inter as Mourinho backs him after mixed Bernabéu reception

Real Madrid kicked off their Champions League campaign with an intense match against Inter in which Vinicius showed a very different side from the one that made him feared in Europe. The Brazilian recorded nine ball recoveries, more than ever in this competition, but failed to find the net and once again heard a mix of whistles and applause from the Bernabéu crowd. His coach, Mourinho, closed ranks around him and put effort above finishing.

• Vinicius recovered nine balls against Inter, his best ever in a Champions League match, where his usual average is three recoveries.
• He is the third Real Madrid forward in the last twenty years to make nine or more recoveries in a European match, after Higuaín and Robinho in 2008.
• The Brazilian missed clear chances near the box and was substituted amid whistles from one part of the Bernabéu and applause from another.
• Mourinho defended his player: “Whoever gives everything is not obliged to give more, because he has nothing more to give. And he gave everything.”

Vinicius reaches a historic defensive mark against Inter with nine recoveries

Rarely has Vinicius been seen so involved in defensive duties as in this European opener. Far from the winger who punishes in the box and drives full-backs crazy, the Brazilian worked hard to help the team in a back-and-forth match that demanded everyone track back. His nine recoveries are a figure he had never reached in the Champions League, a competition where he averages just three per game.

The stat puts him in unusual company for an attacker of his profile. In the last twenty years, only two Real Madrid forwards had recorded nine or more ball recoveries in a single Champions League match: Gonzalo Higuaín, with twelve against Zenit, and Robinho, with nine against Roma. Both achieved it in 2008.

To find a similar defensive effort from Vinicius across all official competitions, you have to go back to June 2020. The display against Inter confirms that the Brazilian is willing to double his workload while he rediscovers his best form, even if that sacrifice has not yet brought back the clinical edge Madrid fans expect from him.

The Bernabéu splits again over Vinicius between whistles and applause

The night once again highlighted the Brazilian's unstable relationship with part of the crowd. Every lost ball or clouded moment near the box drew much of the evening's whistles, and even his substitution was met with jeers. At the same time, another section of the stadium rushed to counter those boos with applause, in a tug-of-war that repeats itself whenever Vinicius fails to deliver.

Mourinho, aware of the storm, did not hesitate to protect his man. The Portuguese avoided criticising the fans and preferred to speak from his relationship with the player to make clear the respect he feels for him. The coach applauded him when he was taken off and turned what others see as a shortcoming into a strength: commitment above finishing.

Mourinho explains Vinicius' moment: “The time will come when he decides matches”

The Real Madrid coach openly admitted that the Brazilian is not at his best level and that the player knows it more than anyone. Mourinho particularly valued the work of Vinicius in training and in matches, and insisted that, precisely because he is not at his peak, he is working harder than ever. For the Portuguese, his defensive effort was very good and only fatigue prevented him from keeping it up at certain stages.

The Portuguese coach also put the difficulty of the task into context. Facing an opponent sitting deep with three centre-backs and flying wing-backs makes life very tough for wide players, and in that scenario the work of Vinicius and Brahim inside was impeccable. Still, there was a sense that the Brazilian could have killed the game with one of his surges down the left.

He could have killed the game with one of those moves down the left, but the Vinicius who is at his best finishes them, like he did against Benfica. That is what we expect from him.

Mourinho closed his press conference with a phrase that sums up his philosophy: whoever gives everything is not obliged to give more, because he has nothing more to give. And Vinicius, according to his coach, gave everything. The killer, for now, remains hidden. But until he comes back, nobody can blame this Vinicius for his effort.

What is at stake for Real Madrid in the Champions League opener

The European opener against Inter was a test of the team's response in a competition they have historically dominated. Real Madrid, the most successful club in Champions League history, face every edition with the demand of going far, and starting well at home sets the tone for the group stage. Beyond the result, the match made clear that Mourinho's block prioritises collective sacrifice in high-stakes games.

For Vinicius, the challenge is twofold. On one side, to recover the confidence and goalscoring instinct that made him a decisive player in Europe. On the other, to reconnect with a crowd that demands the extraordinary and does not forgive slips from someone who once got them used to the best. The Brazilian is working to make the hard-working Vinicius and the killer Vinicius the same player again.