Home, sweet home, the saying goes. Home sweet home, sometimes, now surely not, you must think Viniciuswho on Saturday, already in the locker room tunnel, after the first whistle after going out to warm up, already looked devastated; and that, later, he suffered punishment from the Bernabéu public with a persistence rarely seen (probably ever) in the stadium. He Santiago Bernabéu has whistled Stéfano, to Velazquez, to Martin of Vazquez was Zidanebut they were manias against players with class, whom it took them a while to understand. With Vinicius It was something else: a reprimand, a big reprimand, for his rudeness in the Clásico and because in the last two years he has been the same noisy player as always, but not the same efficient footballer as always.
a little hope
And in this moment of crisis, the public considers him the ultimate culprit for everything that happens. The clash against Levante was penance. But then, on Sunday, Barcelona lost against Real Sociedad, LaLiga came within a point and today, against Monacothe Royal Madrid can certify that the Champions League is going well and that the future may not be so dark.
Until that happens, he is in unknown territory: that of the systematic rejection of those who were his. The white locker room left the game against Levante in a state of absolute “shock.” The players, accustomed to the demands, but not to the tireless criticism for almost ninety minutes, felt that the ground was opening under their feet, especially where they passed Vinicius. That feeling of orphanhood is what Alvaro Arbeloa He is trying to fight now with a decision that does not allow nuances: Vinicius’ ownership is not negotiable.
Facing the stage of Xabi Alonsomarked by certain reservations and a search for order that sometimes seemed to clash with the Brazilian’s creative anarchy, the blackboard has decided to bet everything on seven. “He will be on the field as long as he is available and performs as he is,” assured the coach, nipping any debate in the bud and with his affection for phrases that sound grandiose. This protection of the blackboard seeks to heal a footballer, according to the coach, with “a huge heart and who is very emotional.” «He loves this shield and the fans, he wants them on his side. As a coach I would love to see a Bernabeu “Let him be next to his players,” said the coach. «He is a boy who has been writing his story in the Real Madrid many years. He has given us two Champions Leagues and magical nights. You need to Bernabeu to give his best version,” the coach continued yesterday, who ended almost all the questions by appealing to the fans.
Unite the broken
The Bernabéu, which lately was showing more patience with the players’ mistakes, has lost it with Vinicius and with the rest of the team. Hence, the mission for today’s clash is to unite, for both sides (footballers and critics) to find the meeting point. For that, the first step is understanding. «I understand people. Before being a footballer, I was a young man who watched football and criticized and whistled,” he said yesterday. Kylian Mbappé. «I can understand that they whistle, because it is the only opportunity for the fan and the Madrid fan to express themselves. I understand the whistles perfectly, but if they do it they have to whistle at the entire squad, not just a few players. All players do it wrong. We have character and personality to change it on the field. “Madrid fans are angry but I am sure they will come back to us,” the French striker continued.
On social networks There is a kind of Madrid civil war between those who support Vini and those who support Kylian. The debate, with more or less nuances, usually boils down to which of the two forwards puts the least pressure and, therefore, is more detrimental to the team. But Mbappé, whether he presses or not, has the goals as proof that he is being useful to the rest. TO Viniciusdry for a long time, that’s missing. Perhaps it was no coincidence that after the Levante event and before returning to the Bernabéu it was the Frenchman who came out to face the media. His speech was the speech that was expected: all Madrid fans are in the same boat and the objective, now, is for it not to sink: «It’s not Vini’s fault if we play the way we play now. It’s the fault of the entire squad. It’s the only thing I have to say to Real Madrid fans. Let the entire squad whistle and we have to do it. It’s our job and we have to change the situation. “It’s everyone’s fault,” he continued. Kylian.
It is a mystery how the Bernabéu will react before the match starts. Less of a mystery is how it will be afterward. Football, sometimes, is simple and winning is worth forgiveness.
Probable alignment
Real Madrid’s eleven: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Fran; Tchouaméni, Güler, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Vinicius and Mbappé.
