In Madrid, where every sighting and every training absence is examined closely, José Mourinho has moved to protect Kylian Mbappé from criticism over the French forward’s conduct while recovering from injury.
Questions had been raised after images showed Mbappé taking part in activities away from the pitch during his rehabilitation, with uncertainty also surrounding his fitness for Real Madrid’s forthcoming matches. Mourinho, however, insisted that the forward had met his professional duties and said his selection decisions would be based on that assessment rather than outside reaction.
The Portuguese coach made clear that Mbappé would not be excluded simply because of the debate around him. If the France international is chosen to play, Mourinho said, it will be because he is satisfied that the player has respected his responsibilities to the club.
Mbappé backed amid recovery scrutiny
Mourinho’s intervention was a public defence of a player whose physical condition has become a subject of discussion during his spell on the sidelines. The coach rejected the suggestion that the controversy alone should count against Mbappé.
“If he plays, it is because I am certain he has not let Real Madrid down,” Mourinho said. “He has fulfilled his obligations.”
The message from the Madrid coach was that football decisions would rest on commitment and readiness, not on the noise surrounding an injured player’s time away from match action.
A strict standard for the squad
Mourinho paired that support with a broader warning to his Real Madrid players. He said the demands of the club extend beyond matchday and that anyone failing to act as a Madrid player should throughout the day would not be included among the substitutes.
Rather than being exposed to criticism from the stands, such a player would remain at home, Mourinho said, stressing that he would not even offer them a place on the bench.
His remarks set out a firm disciplinary line: reputation and status will not protect any member of the squad who falls short of the standards he expects. In Mbappé’s case, Mourinho believes those standards have been met; for others, he indicated, the consequences of failing them will be immediate.
