Real Madrid Confidencial Vinicius Jr announces what Xabi Alonso told him as soon as he arrived at Madrid: 'He wants...'
The coach wants to establish high pressing in the opponent's half, and the Brazilian has carried it out, making his role clear
Vinicius Jr was the main protagonist of the match against Red Bull Salzburg. Goal, assist, and a performance that once again put him in the spotlight. Beyond soccer, he left a statement that reveals a lot about Xabi Alonso's work in his first days as Real Madrid's coach.
"Press? It's a request from Xabi. He's telling us little by little what we have to do," the Brazilian summed up in the mixed zone.
It's no coincidence. The new coach wants a more aggressive team without the ball. Vinicius is already applying it.
MVP with clear message
The "7" was chosen as the best player of the match. In just 66 minutes (106.6 min.), he scored a stunning goal, delivered a brilliant assist, and produced several high-level plays, but what stood out the most was his speech. He is committed and he is understanding what Xabi Alonso wants.
"We're taking it step by step. Of course we're not going to do everything he asks so quickly. Today was a good match for that." He says it, the team is in an adaptation phase, but the ideas are clear. High pressing, more aggressiveness, pace, and collective responsibility.
An assist "like Guti"
Vinicius also spoke about his assist to Valverde, which was one of the most outstanding moments of the match. "It was a good assist, one of the best I've given. Above all, I'm happy for Valverde, who always gives me a lot of confidence."
That backheel pass recalled Guti's famous assist at Riazor. Details from a player in form and motivated who wants to keep growing under his new coach.
Vinicius also wanted to highlight the timing of the competition. "We played very well in the first half, but in the second we were a bit weaker. That's normal because of the matches coming up, where we can't fail anymore."
Real Madrid are in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup and will face Juventus. The objective is clear: win the title, and Vini knows it. He is focused, and Xabi Alonso is already starting to leave his mark.
"He wants us to press more. He wants us to do everything with intensity." Vinicius has understood it, and if he leads the way, the rest will follow.
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