Mourinho Confirms Kylian Mbappé to Start Against Villarreal Following Injury Recovery

José Mourinho confirmed Kylian Mbappé will start Saturday's LaLiga match against Villarreal despite recent criticism of the forward's conduct during his injury recovery.

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho confirmed Friday that Kylian Mbappé will start in Saturday's LaLiga fixture against Villarreal at the Bernabéu. The forward, who sustained an injury during international duty with France on Sept. 25, was defended by Mourinho following criticism of his trips to Paris and Switzerland during his recovery period. The manager dismissed the backlash as "ridiculous," noting that Mbappé's travel involved a private event in Paris and a hotel stay in Switzerland that utilized bicycles for internal transport.

Mbappé sought an external consultant for a knee injury, a diagnosis that Mourinho stated was in total agreement with Real Madrid's medical staff at Valdebebas. The manager asserted that the player has fulfilled his professional obligations and would not be in the lineup if his behavior had failed the club. Madrid enters the weekend trailing league leaders Barcelona by six points, with a schedule that includes El Clásico at Camp Nou on Oct. 25.

Addressing other squad concerns, Mourinho acknowledged that Vinícius Júnior has not reached his peak form this season. The coach expressed frustration with media-influenced fan criticism of the Brazilian, who is working toward a return to the level of performance that secured previous Champions League titles. Mourinho indicated he may consider a specific plan involving rest to help the player regain his best form.