Mourinho's Huge Doubts About Vinicius

Vinícius Júnior, Brazilian forward for Real Madrid, has completed his four-match suspension in LaLiga and forces José Mourinho to make a decision regarding his return against Celta, scheduled for November 21. The development of Yan Diomande, who has taken over the left wing during his absence, opens a tactical debate: return the Brazilian to his spot, shift the Ivorian to the right, or initially keep the Brazilian international on the bench.

The problem for Mourinho is not just choosing between two players. The Portuguese coach has found an offensive structure that has allowed Madrid to string together eight consecutive wins, with Diomande starting on the left. Recovering Vinícius without altering the mechanisms that have been working will be one of the main challenges for the coaching staff.

The situation also has an individual component. The Brazilian has participated in Champions League matches against Roma, Leipzig, and AEK, but his performances have not dispelled doubts about his current form. Therefore, his return to domestic competition does not guarantee him a place in the starting eleven.

Mourinho studies three scenarios to fit Vinícius and Diomande

The first alternative involves returning Vinícius to the left flank and moving Diomande to the right side. This would not be a new solution: both shared starting roles in the victory against AEK Athens (2-3), with the Ivorian mainly playing on the right.

Mourinho himself has already explained that Diomande is prepared to operate on both flanks. His versatility allows both attackers to be on the field without forcing the coach to modify the entire offensive structure.

The second possibility is to keep Diomande on the left and use Vinícius as a substitute. This option would make sense if Mourinho believes the Brazilian needs to regain his form before resuming a starting role. Additionally, it would allow maintaining a lineup that has secured eight victories.

The third scenario would be to modify the positions of the offensive front to seek a new distribution of spaces. However, there are no indications that Mourinho has decided to opt for a different solution or that he will definitively move Vinícius from his usual position.

There is another fact that explains the coach's doubts: according to AS, the Brazilian is already playing approximately 12 minutes less per match with Mourinho than with Xabi Alonso. The management of his minutes, therefore, had changed even before completing the suspension.

🚨🚨| Vinicius Jr has now gone TEN matches without scoring a goal. He only has 1 goal this season....😳 https://t.co/pSt4yiaNyv

— Kalshi FC (@KalshiFC) November 4, 2026

José Mourinho does not guarantee Vinícius' starting spot

Mourinho has made it clear that the name and history of a player do not determine their presence in the starting eleven. In his press conference prior to the Valencia-Real Madrid match on November 6, he emphasized that his responsibility is to recover the performance of his players without compromising the collective functioning.

The Portuguese also defended the need to maintain confidence in Vinícius, reminding that even the highest-level players go through periods in which their performances do not meet expectations. His message combines individual support with competitive demands.

The Brazilian, for his part, needs to take advantage of the training sessions after the international break to convince the coaching staff. His four-match suspension has caused him to lose continuity in LaLiga, while Diomande has provided arguments to keep his position.

Mourinho's decision will come for the Real Madrid-Celta on November 21. Until then, the main uncertainty will be whether Vinícius regains his starting role directly, shares the attack with Diomande on both flanks, or starts from the bench. The coach has alternatives, but he has already shown that he does not intend to modify the team solely to ensure minutes for the Brazilian.