José Mourinho Defends Kylian Mbappé After Bernabéu Boos as Real Madrid Beat Inter
The Santiago Bernabéu witnessed another dramatic European night on Tuesday, but Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan was not completely comfortable.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring, Federico Valverde added a second, and Madrid eventually held on after Carlos Augusto pulled one back for Inter.
The result gave José Mourinho's team three valuable points in their opening Champions League match of the 2026-27 campaign.
But beyond the scoreline, another story quickly developed inside the stadium.
Some Real Madrid supporters expressed their frustration with the team's performance, and Mbappé was among the players to receive boos when he was substituted.
Instead of allowing the atmosphere to become another controversy, Mourinho chose to support his star forward.
The Portuguese coach did not criticise the supporters. However, his actions and comments made his position clear: Mbappé had worked for the team, scored an important goal and deserved the manager's respect.
For a player carrying enormous expectations at Real Madrid, that backing could prove important.
Introduction: A Winning Night With a Complicated Atmosphere
Real Madrid started their Champions League campaign with a victory, but the match against Inter showed that Mourinho's new team still has plenty of work to do.
Madrid raced into a 2-0 lead within the opening 23 minutes.
Mbappé struck first in the 14th minute after Inter lost possession, before Valverde doubled the advantage nine minutes later.
It looked as though Mourinho's side could be heading toward a comfortable European victory.
Instead, Inter gradually took control of possession and created opportunities.
Carlos Augusto's goal in the 77th minute made the final stages extremely tense, forcing Real Madrid to defend their advantage until the final whistle.
Thibaut Courtois eventually became one of the most important players on the pitch, making several crucial saves as Inter pushed for an equaliser.
And while Madrid celebrated the three points, attention also turned toward the reaction of the home supporters.
Background: Why the Bernabéu Pressure Is So Intense
Playing for Real Madrid is different from playing for almost any other club in world football.
The expectation is not simply to win.
Madrid supporters expect their team to dominate.
They expect their biggest stars to decide important matches.
And they expect expensive or highly celebrated players to perform at the highest level almost every time they step onto the pitch.
Mbappé understands that better than most.
Since arriving at Real Madrid, the French forward has carried enormous expectations because of his reputation, his transfer history and his extraordinary scoring record.
His 2025-26 campaign alone produced 42 goals in 44 appearances for the club. He finished as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and also led the Champions League scoring charts with 15 goals.
That is why the reaction against him at the Bernabéu is so interesting.
A player can score, create chances and still be judged against an almost impossible standard.
News Details: Mourinho Makes His Position Clear
Mbappé was one of Real Madrid's most important players against Inter.
His opening goal gave Madrid the perfect start and also took his Champions League career tally to 71 goals, moving him level with Real Madrid legend Raúl in fifth place on the competition's all-time scoring list.
But when Mourinho eventually substituted him, sections of the Bernabéu expressed their displeasure.
The manager was asked about the reaction after the match.
Mourinho refused to criticise the supporters.
He explained that he would not comment on the crowd's reactions.
But then came the more important part.
Mourinho pointed to his own reaction toward Mbappé when the Frenchman left the field, explaining that the gesture was his way of showing respect for the work Mbappé had done for the team.
That was Mourinho's way of making his position clear without entering into a confrontation with the supporters.
The coach was effectively saying that he understands the fans have their opinions, but he also has his responsibility to protect and support his players.
And Mbappé was not the only Madrid star to experience a difficult moment.
Vinícius Jr. was also booed by sections of the Bernabéu when he was substituted.
Mourinho defended the Brazilian as well, highlighting his work rate and saying that a player who gives everything for the team deserves respect.
That suggests Mourinho is trying to establish a culture in which effort remains important even when individual performances fall below expectations.
Mbappé's Response: Another Goal at the Right Time
If there was one thing Mbappé could do to answer the criticism, it was score.
And he did exactly that.
His goal against Inter was his fifth of the 2026-27 season after five appearances.
He had already scored four times in La Liga before finding the net against Inter.
That means the Frenchman has started the new campaign with an impressive scoring rate.
More importantly, his Champions League goal came against one of Europe's strongest sides.
It was also another reminder of why Mourinho continues to trust him.
The Real Madrid manager believes Mbappé will continue scoring goals.
Mourinho also praised the forward's work for the team and suggested that the Frenchman could once again finish as the Champions League's leading scorer.
That is a powerful endorsement from a coach who has already shown that he is willing to defend his players publicly.
Player Analysis: Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé's biggest strength remains his ability to turn limited opportunities into goals.
Against Inter, he did not need an entire match of dominance.
One mistake from the Italian defence created an opening, and Mbappé punished it.
That is what elite forwards do.
However, the match also showed why Mourinho wants more from his attackers.
Real Madrid struggled to control the game for long periods.
Inter enjoyed approximately 70% possession, while Madrid relied heavily on their goalkeeper to protect the lead.
That means Mbappé's contribution cannot simply be measured by his goal.
He also needs to help Madrid when they are under pressure, particularly in matches where the opponent controls the midfield.
The good news for Mourinho is that the Frenchman appears willing to work.
And when a world-class goalscorer combines his finishing ability with defensive effort and tactical discipline, he becomes even more valuable.
The Ballon d'Or Question
The timing of the controversy is also interesting because Mbappé has just been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
The 30-man shortlist was announced on September 8, with Mbappé included alongside some of the biggest names in world football.
The ceremony will take place at the London Palladium on October 26. It will be the first time the Ballon d'Or ceremony is held in London, with the move also marking the award's 70th anniversary.
Mbappé's numbers give him a strong argument.
He scored 42 goals for Real Madrid during the 2025-26 season, including 25 in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League.
He then continued his individual form with France.
But the Ballon d'Or race is extremely competitive.
Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Vinícius Jr., Rodri and several other stars are also nominated.
So Mourinho's comments about individual greatness are particularly relevant.
The Portuguese coach has argued that the best individual player does not necessarily have to be the player who wins every major trophy.
That opens an interesting debate.
Can a player be the best in the world even if his team does not win everything?
Mourinho believes the answer can be yes.
GoodNewsTV01 Analysis
For GoodNewsTV01, the biggest lesson from this story is that Real Madrid's pressure has already arrived under Mourinho.
The team has won its opening Champions League match.
Mbappé scored.
Valverde scored.
Courtois produced a huge performance.
And Madrid collected three points.
Yet there were still boos inside the Bernabéu.
That tells us something about the expectations surrounding this club.
Mourinho understands those expectations better than almost anyone.
His decision not to attack the supporters was smart.
At the same time, his decision to publicly support Mbappé was equally important.
A manager cannot control everything that happens in the stands.
But he can control the atmosphere inside his dressing room.
If Mbappé knows that Mourinho trusts him, the Frenchman can focus on improving his performances rather than worrying about every reaction from the supporters.
The same applies to Vinícius.
The Brazilian may not currently be at his absolute best, but Mourinho clearly believes his effort deserves recognition.
That could become an important part of Madrid's season.
Real Madrid do not need their stars fighting against each other.
They need Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham, Valverde and the rest of the squad working in the same direction.
The Champions League opener showed both sides of Mourinho's Real Madrid.
There is enormous attacking quality.
There is also a worrying lack of control at times.
Against Inter, Madrid had to depend heavily on Courtois.
That cannot become a regular strategy.
If Mourinho wants to compete for the Champions League trophy, his team will eventually have to control matches better against Europe's strongest opponents.
Conclusion
José Mourinho's return to Real Madrid has already produced drama.
His team defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the Champions League, but the victory came with pressure from the Bernabéu crowd and questions about the performances of some of Madrid's biggest stars.
Kylian Mbappé, however, continues to provide the most important answer a striker can give.
Goals.
His strike against Inter took him to 71 Champions League goals and continued an excellent start to the 2026-27 campaign.
The boos may have created headlines, but Mourinho's response created another story.
He did not attack the fans.
He did not publicly complain.
Instead, he showed Mbappé respect and backed his forward's contribution.
For a club as demanding as Real Madrid, that relationship between manager and star player could become extremely important.
The season is still young.
But one thing is already clear: Mourinho knows the pressure is coming, and he is prepared to stand beside his players when it arrives.
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