As the "Ultras Sur" chanted his name towards the end of the game at the Bernabeu, however, they were drowned out by a significant section of the stadium, whistling the Portuguese for the first time.
Many fans of the nine-times European champions appear to have lost patience with Mourinho following Wednesday's King's Cup quarter-final first leg reverse to Barcelona, which tightened the Spanish and European champions' recent stranglehold over their arch rivals.
An unsourced report in Marca, Spain's biggest-selling sports daily, told of a rift between Mourinho and some of the squad's Spanish internationals.
Pepe's stamp on Lionel Messi's hand during the cup game, which he said was unintentional but which drew widespread condemnation, contributed to a difficult week for the club.
As the cup holders prepare for Wednesday's second leg at the Nou Camp, Real President Florentino Perez may be wondering whether he will live to regret his decision to bet all his chips on Mourinho as he desperately seeks to end Barca's domination and secure an elusive 10th European title.
Perez has repeatedly backed Mourinho, whom he says is the world's best coach, voicing his support even after the Portuguese was caught on camera jabbing a finger into the eye of Barca assistant coach Tito Vilanova and amid accusations Mourinho was damaging Real's image.
Real's players rallied behind their coach after the win against Bilbao, which preserved the La Liga leaders' five-point lead over second-placed Barca with half the season played.
"The whistles directed at Mourinho are whistles for all of us," Alvaro Arbeloa, another Spain international, added.
"Mourinho is a great coach, this is an issue for the fans," France striker Benzema said. "We are united and there is nothing else to say."
Quizzed about the whistling, the former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan coach said it was the first time it had happened to him in his career but that it was "not a problem".
"I will
