Real Madrid coach José Mourinho dismisses criticism of Kylian Mbappé during the international break as “ridiculous,” defending the forward amid scrutiny over how he chose to recover from a left knee injury. Multiple outlets report that the criticism centers on his activities while he is preparing to return to club duties.
Ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Villarreal, Mourinho says Mbappé is fit to play and urges the media to stop attacking him. Several reports also describe Mourinho’s remarks as a broader criticism of public commentary, including speculation tied to Mbappé’s private life. Other Real Madrid players mentioned in the lead-up include players Mourinho discusses for the game as he outlines the team situation.
Overall, the outlets agree on the key thrust of Mourinho’s message: he backs Mbappé’s recovery and characterizes the backlash as unwarranted, while he signals the France forward’s readiness for the next fixture.
