Mourinho lashes out at 'ridiculous' criticism of Mbappe
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has defended striker Kylian Mbappe against public criticism regarding his recovery from a knee injury. Mourinho dismissed claims that Mbappe was neglecting his duties, explaining that the player's travel and activities were medically sanctioned and misinterpreted by the media.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intense public and media scrutiny faced by high-profile athletes and the role of managers in protecting their players' reputations.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho slammed criticism of star striker Kylian Mbappe, on Friday labelling the attacks as "ridiculous".
The French captain has come under fire for spending his time recovering from a left knee injury -- which he suffered playing in a Nations League match against Turkey -- in France and Switzerland rather than Madrid.
The 27-year-old was also pictured at the entrance of a Parisian nightclub and photographed on a bicycle when he was in Switzerland.
Some fans claimed it was a deliberate snubbing of Mourinho, who had only days before said that players should avoid skiing or riding bicycles so as to avoid risking injury.
"Are these criticisms over the top? They are ridiculous," said Mourinho at his press conference on the eve of their La Liga home match with Villarreal.
"All the players who were obliged to be present every day for their recovery were here.
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