MY ACCOUNT
Carlo Ancelotti hailed Vinicius Junior as a role model after the Real Madrid forward faced fresh criticism from the Real Mallorca camp ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga game at Son Moix.
Madrid won 4-1 at home against Mallorca in September, with Vinicius complaining during the game of instructions from visiting boss Javier Aguirre.
The Brazilian felt Aguirre was telling his Mallorca players to hand out some rough treatment, and Vinicius confronted him about his orders.
Days later, Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo told Diario de Mallorca: “Vinicius should dance, but he shouldn’t be disrespectful, he shouldn’t insult or belittle his fellow professionals; then when he is branded as provocative he uses the race card.”
This week, Raillo spoke again about Vinicius, saying in a clip on DAZN’s Twitch channel: “If tomorrow I have to set an example for my son as a player, maybe I would give [Luka] Modric or [Karim] Benzema, but never him.”
It means there will be focus on Vinicius on Sunday, but Ancelotti has no doubt the 22-year-old can cope with the attention.
“Vini’s going to prepare for this game the same way as he does for all matches,” said Ancelotti. “He doesn’t need a sit-down, for me to have a chat with him.
“For me, Vinicius is an example of a footballer. Youngsters like players with such quality. My grandchildren have his shirt and they don’t want another one.”
Ancelotti spoke in a press conference on Saturday, ahead of a trip to face a Mallorca side who sat 10th heading into the latest round of games.
Defending LaLiga champions Madrid began the weekend five points behind leaders Barcelona, with a win over Valencia on Thursday atoning to some extent for last weekend’s goalless draw with Real Sociedad.
Madrid have won nine of their past 10 games against Mallorca in LaLiga, including each of the last four, while Los Blancos have won six times in their last nine visits to the island outfit (D2 L1).
Ancelotti is unimpressed that Madrid have been handed an early afternoon kick-off slot on Sunday, having been in action on Thursday evening.
“We’re not happy,” he said. “We don’t have a choice. The 72 hours is the minimum needed, so playing at two o’clock I don’t think is right.”
A Club World Cup campaign awaits, and Ancelotti could rest veteran midfielders Luka Modric or Toni Kroos on Sunday.
Equally, he could play both, as the Italian said: “The most important game is the one against Mallorca. There is a lot riding on the match, so I’ll pick my best team, with or without Modric and Kroos, we’ll see.
“This is the most important game right now and will help with preparations ahead of the Club World Cup.”
