Jose Mourinho has revealed what he said to Vinicius Junior after alleged racial abuse during Benfica's 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday night. The Brazilian winger scored the only goal of the game in the 50th minute with a beautiful curling effort from outside the box.
But as he wheeled away to dance by the corner flag, he was met with objects thrown at him by home supporters at the Estadio da Luz, before receiving a yellow card from the referee for appearing to taunt them. Then a comment made by Argentine opponent Gianluca Prestianni saw tempers explode, as the match was delayed for 10 minutes after Vinicius claimed he had been racially abused.
As he made his way to the bench, Mourinho appeared to offer a few words in his ear, with the two deep in conversation. The 63-year-old has now revealed exactly what was said after later being sent off for coming out of his technical area and aggressively questioning his initial caution.
Mourinho Slams Vinicius for 'Disrespectful' Celebration Amid Racism Row
Jose Mourinho and Vinicius Jr
"Unfortunately, he was not just happy to score that stunning goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way," Mourinho said of Vinicius during his post-match press conference. Asked if he incited any potential conflict he received after the goal, he added:
"Yeah, I believe so. I want to be independent, I don't want to say I believe Prestianni and don't believe Vini because they said two completely different things. I want to be independent, and I don't comment about it."
Vinicius Jr
Then asked a question by reporters about what he spoke to Vinicius about when the Brazilian headed towards the dugout for a breather, Mourinho doubled down on his opinion that the Real Madrid superstar had incited some of the abuse he got from the stands and that Benfica players would surely not have entertained racism. He replied (watch the full segment below):
"I told him exactly that. I told him, 'When you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back.' When he was arguing about racism, I told him, 'The biggest person in the history of this club [Benfica] was black. This club, the last thing it is, is racist. If in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica."
Mourinho Suspended for Second Leg After Red Card
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho after Everton v Tottenham Hotspur.
Tuesday night's encounter played out dramatically differently from the last time the two sides met. In the final fixture of the competition's league phase, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin's 98th-minute goal to make it 4-2 ensured Mourinho's side qualified for the play-offs by the skin of their teeth.
Now they are on the brink of elimination via the same opposition, as they will travel to the Bernabeu next week without their ringmaster in the dugout. Mourinho was shown looking animated on the touchline after the Portuguese side won a free-kick in a dangerous area just outside the penalty area as they chased an equaliser in the final moments of the game.
Seconds later, the referee came over to speak with Mourinho, who was shown a yellow card. A red followed moments later as he continued shouting towards the officials in a furious tirade.