In the second minute, Vinicius, lying on the ground after a foul, was kicked in the back without the ball. It was Calatrava, Espanyol’s player, and he did it just a few centimeters from the Real Madrid bench, where Jose Mourinho was sitting. In 2011 that action would have boiled the Portuguese coach’s mood. But yesterday, in his return to Spanish football at the RCDE Stadium, he raised his arms in surprise and raised his eyebrows. Little more. He stayed seated in his place and did not jump up to protest. The Portuguese’s return to La Liga 13 years later ended with fury after Espí’s last-minute goal and he waited until the press conference to denounce the «bullying» against the Brazilian.
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In his first official lineup, the stars’ leadership was hinted at. «I want them to feel comfortable», he had warned beforehand about the communion between Vinicius, Bellingham and Mbappé on the pitch. The Englishman started preseason on the 12th and had only a few days of light training in Valdebebas, but he appeared straight in the starting eleven. A strong message about his importance in the coach’s scheme, who considers him a flagship.
Bellingham occupied the attacking midfield and moved away from the wings, where Ancelotti or Xabi Alonso had placed him at times after Mbappé’s arrival. For the Portuguese, the Briton must be in the center and close to the area. Next to him he kept Arda Güler, the best of Madrid’s preseason and in constant contact with the ball. Between him and Bernardo Silva they created Madrid’s good start, with Valverde sweeping everything behind.
In defense, some messages: Dumfries over Trent after both had time to get ready, and Konaté ahead of Rüdiger. Both decisions seem serious. On the left, Carreras started and left Cucurella on the bench, but this decision seems to be a temporary matter.
But let’s go back to Bellingham. The Englishman had just scored seven goals in eight World Cup matches playing as a second striker behind Harry Kane. «Tuchel has found the perfect role for Jude», Mourinho said beforehand. «Deschamps the perfect for Kylian and Ancelotti the perfect for Vini. I have it harder», he assured. But against Espanyol Bellingham showed that his place is a few meters from the opponent’s goal. He headed a great cross from Güler into the net and put his team ahead.
On the bench, Mourinho stood up to greet his group of assistants as a way to congratulate them for their set-piece work, with Sami Khedira, his great ‘signing’ this summer for the coaching staff, in the seat closest to the bench.
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From there, Madrid went from more to less, completely disconnecting when the half-hour mark of the first half arrived and enraging Mourinho in the second half. Vinicius began to get involved in scuffles with opponents and saw yellow for a clash with Calatrava. Mourinho, already standing, watched without saying anything, but kept his thoughts for the post-match press conference.
«Vini is not a saint, but what they do to him is too much. I think it is something that is already planned. We are in a social era of anti-bullying, but with Vini we are still in bullying», the Portuguese denounced.
Espanyol posted a tweet criticizing the Brazilian for simulating a penalty when he had a yellow card. “From how many pools do you get the second yellow? It’s for a friend,” wrote the Perico team’s account on social media, although after the match their coach Manolo González said it was not a sending-off action. Courtois, in the mixed zone, replied to them: “I would like to see all the tweets teams make against us also when they play against others“.
Mourinho spoke beforehand about how players should manage the «frustration» that their substitutions could cause. Well, in the 63rd minute he took off Güler, who had been the best, and later Silva and Bellingham. At the buzzer and with the Portuguese standing and nervous, Espí saved the three points and caused Mourinho to celebrate the goal with fists to the ground and feinting his classic run down the wing. In his place, he called Valverde to give him several instructions for a few seconds and then to Espí himself. No congratulations, just asking more and more from his teammate in Valdebebas.
«He is a very funny guy. We live together in Valdebebas, with my staff, him and Cucurella. And this Sunday is his presentation, what a way to be presented», he praised him after his first goal.
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