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José Mourinho declared that no player in his squad is "untouchable" as Real Madrid prepare for their Champions League encounter against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
The coach made the comments when pressed directly on whether Vinícius Júnior's spot in Madrid's starting lineup was under threat, with the winger struggling for form and currently serving a La Liga ban until November.
The Brazilian remains eligible for Champions League duty and is anticipated to feature from the start against Leipzig. Nevertheless, with Los Blancos putting in an impressive performance without him in Saturday's 4–1 victory over Sevilla, questions have emerged about whether the side actually performs better in his absence.
"Only the badge is untouchable," Mourinho stated at his press conference on Tuesday. "I don't like the concept of 'untouchable' players.
"What earns a player that status isn't a captain's armband, or their time at the club, or their reputation. What makes a player untouchable is how they perform."
Vinícius Jr's Form a Worry
Mourinho's candid remarks represent a notable shift in tone from the manager, who had—up until now—publicly supported Vinícius Jr throughout a difficult spell that has seen the forward go goalless since August.
When the Bernabéu crowd directed jeers and whistles at the club's No. 7 earlier this campaign, Mourinho responded by saying: "In Portugal there is a proverb: you only throw stones at trees that bear fruit.
"So what has Vini done here over recent years? How many Champions Leagues has he won, how many goals has he scored, how many balls has he won? His record speaks for itself — he is the tree full of fruit and people want to take a piece of Viní."
Before the victory over Roma, Mourinho also described it as "heartbreaking" to watch his star endure such a difficult stretch, expressing his desire for the "real Vinícius" to return in the Champions League.
A week later, the manager appears to be signaling that he is prepared to relegate the star forward to the bench if circumstances demand it.
For his part, Vinícius Jr has acknowledged being "angry with myself for not being at my best," and suggested he was battling confidence problems during the most recent international break.
Champions League Now Huge for Struggling Star
Vinícius Jr is widely regarded as a favorite of club president Florentino Pérez and one of the dressing room's most prominent figures. After putting pen to paper on a lucrative contract extension back in August, Vinícius Jr effectively became unsellable. Yet his recent displays mean he is not immune to being dropped by Mourinho—however uncomfortable that situation may be for everyone involved.
With Vinícius Jr sidelined in La Liga until Nov. 7—following a four-match ban for grabbing Nathan Saliba's hair (and his subsequent complaints to the referee) during the win over Villarreal—the forthcoming Champions League matches carry added significance for the Brazilian.
The fixtures against Leipzig on Wednesday and AEK Athens on Nov. 4 represent the only chances Vinícius Jr will have to appear for his club before the next international break. Those two matches could prove pivotal for the 26-year-old's campaign.
With Yan Diomande now making his mark—the young Ivorian has contributed to four goals in his last three appearances, including a stunning strike against Sevilla that is in contention for goal of the month—Vinícius Jr faces genuine competition for the left wing spot for the first time in years.
A scorer in two finals, the Champions League has been the stage for Vinícius Jr's greatest moments as a Real Madrid player. He will need to rediscover some of that brilliance against Leipzig to persuade Mourinho that he still deserves a place in Los Blancos' best starting eleven.