Former Porto striker Benni McCarthy says Jose Mourinho should apologise for comments made after a Champions League fixture between Benfica and Real Madrid. Mourinho, the Benfica manager, criticised Vinicius Jr for his reaction to racial abuse during the match. McCarthy, who played under Mourinho at Porto, described his former coach as an emotional person who sometimes speaks before thinking.
Per BBC Sport, the South African coach urged Mourinho to admit he was wrong to question the player's conduct. Vinicius Jr reportedly faced abuse from spectators before being sent off late in the game. Mourinho had suggested the Brazilian forward should focus on football rather than the crowd.
McCarthy stated that Mourinho must show humility and support the victim of such incidents. According to reports, the comments have caused significant friction between the two clubs. Mourinho has not yet responded to McCarthy's public advice. The 48-year-old McCarthy previously worked as a first-team coach at Manchester United until the summer of 2024.
