Tonight, Real Madrid will face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of the round of 32 of the Champions League. Expectations are focused on Vinicius Junior, who is not having his best period and faces this challenge with the need to prove his worth, having received criticism from his coach and others in recent weeks.
The Madrid winger has not scored in La Liga since November, he missed several games in January through suspension and his performance has been far from his best. The change in his position has also created a tactical problem that Ancelotti has tried to remedy without much success so far.
Now, against an opponent like Manchester City, the lanky Vinicius has an extraordinary opportunity to show his worth and dispel any shadow of doubt about his contribution to the team.
Modric, Ancelotti and the reprimands to Vinicius
The Brazilian has been in the eye of the storm in recent weeks, especially following the incident with Luka Modric in the Copa del Rey match against Leganés. With the game tied and Real Madrid struggling in the second half, Modric reproached Vinicius for his lack of defensive commitment. The Whites’ captain raised his voice, also in the middle of the game, something that was later backed up by Ancelotti at a press conference. “If Modric says it, you always have to listen to Modric”, declared the Italian coach, making it clear that they were expecting a change in attitude from the Brazilian. Despite the tense atmosphere, Modric tried to defuse the controversy after the game, saying that ‘these things happen in football’. But the episode revealed a problem that Vinicius continues to transmit and that he will now have to correct on the pitch.
Vinicius and his struggle to regain prominence
The Brazilian’s biggest challenge this season has been to adapt to his new role in Ancelotti’s system, who, after the departure of Karim Benzema, asked him to play and operate in a more central position, something Vinicius did not accept at first. Vinicius began to internalize the role and, little by little, showed that he could be just as dangerous in the center of the attack. To do this, he has had to accept that his impact on the game has diminished, causing the team tactical problems by having too many players in the same area of the pitch. To this, Ancelotti has insisted on recovering width, something that Vinicius has had trouble assimilating.
The match against Manchester City is the Brazilian’s chance to try to become a protagonist again, both playing inside and running down the wing. His performance could be key for Real Madrid to get a good result in England.
Ancelotti’s desperation and the need for competitiveness
Recent matches have shown Ancelotti on the verge of collapse due to the lack of attacking play from the Madrid team. A constant trickle of players moving down the left has caused an offensive collapse and, finally, has made it more difficult to open up space in the opposition team and has also increased the level of defensive work required of the team itself.
The Italian coach has remarked that the widening of the pitch and the execution of a wider game depend to a large extent on Vinicius’s own interpretation. If the South American is able to interpret the game, to know which side of the pitch he should be on, Real Madrid will be able to make better use of his offensive resources.
Facing a tie against Manchester City is a test, not only for the current champions but also for Vinicius himself. The Brazilian is stepping up to the plate to show that he is still one of the team’s great players. If good old Vinicius is capable of showing up at the Etihad Stadium, he will be able to distance himself from the criticism he has received and once again become one of Real Madrid’s most decisive players.