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Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany criticised Jose Mourinho after Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Benfica.
The controversy arose due to allegations of racist abuse aimed at Vinicius Jr.
Kompany argued that Mourinho should have shown stronger leadership instead of questioning Vinicius Jr’s character afterwards.
“For me, what happened after the game is even worse,” Kompany said during a pre-match press conference.
“Jose Mourinho basically attacked Vinicius Jr’s character by referencing his celebrations to undermine him. That was a big mistake in leadership.”
The incident began when Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of using a racial slur after a second-half goal.
Kylian Mbappe backed Vinicius’s claim, which led to an 11-minute stoppage while FIFA’s anti-racism protocols were put in place.
The Eusebio Defense: Kompany Challenges Mourinho’s Logic
In his post-match remarks, Mourinho rejected the notion that Benfica could be racist, pointing to the legacy of their legendary player Eusebio. Kompany, a strong advocate for equality, strongly disagreed with this defense.
“Mourinho brought up Eusebio’s name, saying Benfica can’t be racist because their greatest player was Eusebio,” Kompany said. “But does he know what Black players went through in the 60s? Was he there with Eusebio for every away game to see it?”
Kompany said Vinicius Jr’s emotional reaction was genuine and couldn’t have been faked.
He also noted that Mbappe, usually very diplomatic, was clear about what he heard. Video clips seemed to show some fans making monkey gestures at the stadium.
Kompany Calls For Vinicius Jr Support
Despite his criticism, Kompany said he still respects Mourinho but believes the coach made a serious mistake in this case.
“I’ve met many people who worked with Mourinho, and I’ve never heard anyone speak badly about him. His players respect him,” Kompany said. “I know he’s passionate about his club and a good person at heart. But I know what I heard, and this time, he was wrong.”
Earlier, Mourinho claimed that Vinicius Jr provokes opponents with his celebrations and that incidents happen wherever he plays. Kompany’s response defended Vinicius and called on the football community to support victims of abuse instead of questioning them.
Real Madrid vs Benfica Rivalry Intensifies
The two clubs have now played eachother twice this year after Benfica beat Real Madrid in the last Champions League group game to secure a playoff place.
The second leg is poised at 1-0 to Real as they take Benfica back to the Bernabeu, with the atmosphere set to be heated for the match.
