Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that his attacker Vinícius Júnior should be cherished by football fans instead of being the target of racism. The coach of the Madrilenians thinks that the 22-year-old Brazilian can shine again on Tuesday in the match against Liverpool in the Champions League.
Vinícius has recently been racially abused several times in the Spanish league. Atlético Madrid supporters hung a doll of the Real Madrid player from a bridge near Real’s training complex, holding a banner reading “Madrid hates Real”.
The attacker, who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool last season, is handling the situation well, according to Ancelotti. “He is focused on the game and likes to play football. It has no effect on him on the pitch. When games are important we see him at his best and tomorrow will of course be a very big game.”
According to the coach, as a football fan it is currently wonderful to watch players like Vinícius. He also does not want to blame Spain for the incidents. “This happens in every country. You can only change people through culture, a common purpose and a sense of humanity,” Ancelotti said.
The Real coach is missing Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos in Liverpool due to illness. “Without Kroos and Tchouameni we have been forced to make adjustments that we would rather not have made. But I don’t care because there is a good atmosphere in the team and we played well without them. Those who came in have it well done and we are confident in that.”
Source: ANP