José Mourinho on Real Madrid's Midfield Harmony and Vinicius Jr.

José Mourinho insists he has not had to play peacemaker between Aurélien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, despite the explosive clashes that scarred Real Madrid’s dressing room last season.

The pair were involved in two altercations in May, one of them serious enough to leave Valverde in hospital with a head injury. It looked like the kind of rift that can split a squad in two.

It hasn’t.

From hospital bed to harmony

The summer break changed everything. Tchouameni signed a new contract. Valverde inherited the armband after Dani Carvajal’s departure. Responsibility shifted, and with it, the mood.

On the eve of Madrid’s meeting with Rayo Vallecano, Mourinho painted a picture of a squad that has repaired itself from the inside.

“Look, I haven't done anything. They've done everything themselves,” he said. “The empathy within the group today, the friendship, the way they work together, the frustration when they go off because nobody wants to be substituted, but still supporting their teammates, the player who comes on in the final minute… the group is fantastic.”

That unity was on display in Europe. In the recent Champions League win over Inter Milan, Tchouameni made his first appearance of the season after returning from World Cup duty, coming on late in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold. At full-time, cameras caught him embracing Valverde. No drama. No distance. Just two key midfielders celebrating a win.

Mourinho admitted he had been ready to intervene when his internationals returned.

“If I knew nothing, if I walked into the dressing room without knowing anything about the situation, I'd think they were great friends,” he said. “When they came back from the World Cup, I was obviously paying attention to see whether I needed to act as a peacekeeper, but I didn't have to do anything.”

Mourinho’s shield around Vinicius

With the midfield tension eased, Mourinho turned his attention to another narrative swirling around the club: Vinicius Jr.

The Brazilian ended a summer of speculation by signing a long-term deal until 2032 last month, a statement of faith from both player and club. On the pitch, though, the start of his season has been muted. One goal in five games in all competitions is a thin return for a forward who has built his reputation on decisive moments.

Mourinho is not worried. Far from it.

“The best Vinicius is coming soon,” he promised. “The one from last year, when the Bernabeu was terrified against Benfica and he ended up winning the tie. The Vinicius who won matches single-handedly hasn't arrived yet. But he will.”

In an era obsessed with metrics, Mourinho reached for the numbers to back his belief.

“In an era of data and statistics, he's very close to his top speed. He's broken his records for high-intensity sprints, records for ball recoveries, for ball recoveries in the final third... He's coming.”

The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager bristled at the criticism directed at the 26-year-old from sections of the Spanish media. For him, the noise is not a sign of decline, but of status. A player who has already helped Real Madrid to three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues and two FIFA Club World Cups will always live under a harsher spotlight.

To underline his point, Mourinho reached for a saying from home.

“In Portugal there's a proverb, I don't know if it's the same in Spain, ‘you only throw stones at trees that bear fruit,’” he said. “What has Vini done here in recent years? How many Champions Leagues has he won? How many goals has he scored? He's a tree with plenty of fruit. And people throw stones because they want fruit.”

Madrid go into the Rayo clash with a reconciled midfield and a star forward whom their coach insists is about to ignite. If Mourinho is right, the stones will keep flying — and so will Vinicius.