The list of Real Madrid players chosen MVP of a match coincides with that of the players who are clicking on the Xabi Alonso plan. First ; then and expansive in the heart of the laborious work with one less against Pachuca; And last morning, Vinicius, who scored again with Madrid after two and a half months of drought and recovered drops of magic in a heel assistance to Fede Valverde. “He remembered Guti a lot [en Riazor a Benzema]. He has been one of the most beautiful in my career, ”he said. The Brazilian unlocks the victory against Salzburg (0-3) that leads Madrid to cross in the round of 16 with Juventus in Miami on Tuesday (21.00, Dazn and Telecinco). But it was not what Xabi celebrated most.
“Vini has played a great game, but not only I keep the goal and assistance,” said the coach. “I keep his sacrifice, with his defensive commitment, knowing how to join, knowing when the right central progressed, doing the turns from behind, not getting off the way … that has allowed us to play close together, both with the ball and without no ball especially in the first part.” I had seen something that had been determined from the beginning, from the training sessions to those of video, through public explanations. It sounded like a cornerstone of change.
I had returned to her on the eve: “We need and have to defend all. The eleven players who are in the field have to be involved at the defensive moment, they have to get together, they have to know how we want We had to improve the distances of how we attacked and how we defended.
The Brazilian was especially attentive, how to maintain positional balance with Gonzalo. To prevent the team from being dicked with too many slacks. More committed to the whole than during the part of the course that passed under the orders of Ancelotti, during which some colleagues complained in deprived of their neglect. In Philadelphia he played with the very present message: “In today’s football, we have to attack with eleven and defend with eleven,” he said at the end.
The first days of work with Xabi are demanding: “We need to do many things within the field to play well.” It is not only about defensive demands. The scheme with three plants that proved for the first time against Salzburg ends up with two strikers, which represents new routes for the Brazilian, more inside after a season closer to the band. “Playing again in this position costs me a little more. I have to adapt again, understand what it is like to play, and understand as quickly as possible what the Mr. wants,” he said about a movement he had already done in the course. “I always liked playing inside because I am closer to the goal. I can give more assists, score more goals.” But he also understands that the tactical adjustments to which he is trying to adapt does not have to do with how he gets to the area. “The team is playing more compact and this ends up helping us better, to attack better and have the ball more. I already played with Ancelotti in this position when we won the Champions League.”
Vinicius’s conversion to the new idea tuned with the union spirit that his coach praised. Xabi chosen as “very illustrative” a little striking of the second part. Madrid takes out a corner, ends up losing the ball and receiving a Salzburg. “The defensive withdrawal that we do all the players is spectacular. How everyone runs in Sprint to put behind the ball. When there is that feeling of ‘we have to defend all’ is important. Without that, it is impossible today.”
Vinicius has click and in the Philadelphia stadium he said again that he would like to continue in Madrid beyond June 30, 2027, the date on which his current contract expires: “I hope I can continue here many years. I have always said that it is the club of my life.”
