According to Marca, Mourinho said in a press conference that he is not a stubborn coach, and he explained the tactical adjustments he has made since Roma scored their third goal at the Stadio Olimpico, changes that have left Vinicius fighting for his place.
Mourinho has completely reworked Real Madrid's initial plan, with significant results. Real Madrid have now won six consecutive matches. In Europe's top leagues, only Paris Saint-Germain have a better run, with nine straight wins. Mourinho remains cautious and unwilling to be overly optimistic: "When you win, everything looks better than it actually is."
Mourinho has made some important decisions. The main one is playing Valverde at right-back, which has sidelined specialist right-backs Dumfries and Trent. Mourinho said: "I don't like it, it makes me uncomfortable. But I put the team first." He also praised the English defender's performance in Santander.
The arrangement is purely tactical, but it also reflects the coach's authority and control of the dressing room. Last season, when Xabi Alonso used Valverde there in the absence of Carvajal and Trent, Valverde publicly said, "I wasn't born to play as a full-back," which was seen as an act of defiance. Now his attitude toward Mourinho is to be ready at any time: "I'll play wherever the coach tells me to."
Real Madrid are on a strong run, largely because Mourinho has broken up the rigid double pivot of Valverde and Tchouaméni and found a way for the creativity of Güler and Bernardo Silva to supply the forwards.
Another key factor in the overall improvement also raises a question. The arrival of Yan Diomande has made Real Madrid more cohesive. He has dribbling ability similar to Vinicius's and has scored more goals than the Brazilian: the Ivorian has four, while Vinicius has only one. Cucurella has also found his form, and Yan Diomande will play ahead of him.
In Athens, Vinicius will play again. Every appearance he makes now comes with extremely high expectations. He must regain his place, prove that he can start, and show that his individual brilliance will not disrupt a team that has already found its rhythm and keeps winning. This is a new situation for Real Madrid's number 7. The coach sends him messages of support, but it is undeniable that Yan Diomande currently owns the left flank. Vinicius needs to respond to change the situation, and he has already lost his trump card.
Meanwhile, Mourinho has also brought Camavinga and Endrick back into the rotation, two players who previously seemed to have been forgotten. Significant rotation is expected for the Athens match. Mourinho said: "There is an understanding between the coach and the players. We have reached a consensus on some things that were initially incomprehensible." According to Cadena SER, the players threw him in the air in celebration in the Camp Nou dressing room. Results speak for themselves.