Real Madrid put in a very good performance in their first and only preseason game before the start of LaLiga. There were more positives than negatives, but overall it was a good showing from all the players who started in the first eleven, except for Vinicius, who is still far from his best and was the only discordant note in an orchestra that seems to be well in tune.
Vinicius has a bad game
It is true that Vinicius‘ attitude seems to have changed compared to last season, but it remains to be seen whether this is a result of the new coach, the fact that it was the first game of the season, or whether he will maintain this level of commitment throughout the year. Because that was the only thing noteworthy about the Brazilian in the first half, where he was very strong in pressing, leading the front line of defense, helping to recover balls, and striking fear into the opposition’s back line.
But with the ball, everything changed, because he hardly dared to take on anyone, and when he did, it didn’t work out. He had chances to run into open space, as he likes to do, but he didn’t seem to have the footballing ability he showed years ago at Real Madrid. The Brazilian seems to be lacking in confidence, it seems that the footballing disconnect he suffered last year has dissipated, and he is unable to turn the situation around. Yesterday’s opponents invited him to show his best side, as did his teammates, because they were less skilled and gave him space, but he couldn’t find it.
He was also unable to take advantage of his teammates’ good form. Both Huijsen and Güler looked for him and found him in advantageous situations, but he was unable to capitalize or create any danger.
Vinicius’ disconnect
The Brazilian winger has been disconnected from football for too long now. It seems that his mind has wandered to other things and he is forgetting that the most important thing in the world of football is to perform on the pitch. Since he lost the vote for the Ballon d’Or, something has broken inside the player, and added to the standoff with Real Madrid over his contract renewal, he seems to have lost his way. For now, his place in Real Madrid’s starting lineup doesn’t seem to be in jeopardy, but that could change if Xabi Alonso starts to see that the player isn’t showing signs of improvement.
Room for improvement
There’s no doubt that this is only the first game of the new season and that there’s plenty of room for the Brazilian to get back to his best. But the first person to realize that a change is needed has to be the player himself. For now, his attitude on the pitch in Austria was completely different to that seen at the end of last season, pressing, running after the ball and showing solidarity with the team. It is the first step towards regaining the confidence he has lost among many sections of the Real Madrid fanbase. But that will not be enough; it is essential that he rediscovers his form, both for himself and for the team.
Vinicius became a problem for Real Madrid last season and, for the moment, his play continues to be well below what can be expected of him. While his teammates seem to have adapted perfectly to Xabi Alonso’s new system, the Brazilian continues to play poorly and show signs of anxiety, demonstrating that he needs to calm down a bit and focus on doing what has made him one of the best players in the world of soccer.