Real Madrid News
Real Madrid fans boo and whistle at players once again before Rayo Vallecano clash
Real Madrid take on Rayo Vallecano in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu today, hoping to produce a strong reaction after their midweek debacle in Portugal.
Los Blancos suffered a humiliating 4-2 defeat to Benfica, even conceding a late goal from their goalkeeper, with the result costing them a place in the top eight of the Champions League standings.
Hostile reception
Considering the dismal performance and disappointing outcome, Real Madrid players were once again greeted with loud whistles and boos by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu today ahead of kickoff vs Rayo Vallecano, reports AS.
A hostile reception was expected by those at the club after the Benfica disasterclass, but manager Alvaro Arbeloa had asked the fans to show support for the players in his press conference.
But it was not to be as Real Madrid were dealt a sense of deja vu of the Levante match, 15 days later, with fans whistling at the players once again.
As the players came out for the warm-up, the whistles rang out loud. Both the goalkeepers, to a lesser extent, and the outfield players were targeted.
It must be noted that the players were jeered by the fans when the team bus arrived as well. And, it is expected that there will be whistles when the line-ups are announced and continue during the match itself.
One of the more striking moments involved Kylian Mbappe. Only a few seconds into the warm-up, the whistles were beginning to fade and, in that atmosphere, the forward applauded. It was a gesture aimed at encouraging the crowd.
It did not work. At that very moment, just as the whistles seemed to be easing, they intensified again, this time directed at him. It did not go down well.
The mood in the stands is strained. That much is undeniable.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
