Thibaut Courtois openly criticized Jose Mourinho

Thibaut Courtois openly supported Vinicius and voiced his opposition to Jose Mourinho’s handling of the situation related to Gianluca Prestianni.

The Real Madrid locker room became tense after the Champions League match against Benfica, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois speaking frankly about the situation. The controversy surrounding allegations of racism involving Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni somewhat overshadowed Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in the first leg.

Earlier, Benfica’s president publicly defended Gianluca Prestianni amidst a wave of accusations, sparking widespread debate on social media and sports media channels. Meanwhile, UEFA has also rejected the complaint filed by Benfica after their defeat to Real Madrid.

During the pre-match press conference, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois clearly stated his opinion: "Mourinho is still Mourinho, and as a coach, he will always stand by his club and what his players say. What disappoints me is using Vini’s celebration as an excuse. He did nothing wrong. It was just a celebration like many opponents have shown against us because when they score against Real Madrid, their excitement often doubles or even triples.

This has happened many times before, and we need to move past it and look forward. You cannot justify an alleged racist act with a celebration."

It is known that Mourinho also made a legal decision regarding the second leg against Benfica, a move that further divided public opinion and intensified the issue. Courtois’ remarks reinforce the view that the matter should be handled carefully and fairly.

As the Champions League reaches a crucial stage, Vinicius’ focus will be vital for Real Madrid’s success. The Royal Club will host Benfica at Santiago Bernabeu at 3:00 AM on February 26 (Vietnam time).