Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has opened up on why Vinicius Junior did not start in their convincing victory over Real Oviedo in La Liga.
The Brazilian forward, who finished as runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race, was left out of the starting XI in favour of his compatriot Rodrygo Goes.
Rodrygo has been linked with a possible move away this summer, but Alonso opted to hand him the nod.
Despite starting on the bench, Vinicius made sure his presence was felt once introduced.
In just 28 minutes on the pitch, he scored one goal and set up another, sealing Madrid’s second straight win of the new campaign.
The 24-year-old also registered 14 touches, completed five of his six passes with 83 per cent accuracy, created one big chance and made a key pass.
His lively cameo earned him an impressive 8.4 rating from sports analytics outlet Sofascore.
The real reason Vinicius was benched
When asked why such an influential player began the game as a substitute, Alonso offered a measured response that highlighted his team-first philosophy.
“In football, you make decisions thinking about the team, and today it was like that,” Alonso told ESPN.
“Changes from game to game depend on what we need in terms of our play, the effort and the opponent. We want people to feel important and be prepared to start, or come off the bench, or be ready for the next game.
“Sometimes it’s starting and being important, sometimes it’s having a few minutes and being important, and Vinicius was today. That will be the story all year.”
The Spanish giants appear to be finding their rhythm under Alonso after a disappointing season under Carlo Ancelotti, which ended without a major trophy.
Two wins from two matches have restored optimism, with Los Blancos level on points with Thomas Partey’s Villarreal and fierce rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.
Attention now shifts to their next league outing, as they welcome Real Mallorca to the Santiago Bernabéu on August 30, hoping to maintain their perfect start.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
