Coach Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr. is fatigued but will play at Villarreal on Saturday in LaLiga. The Brazilian missed team training due to an extra rest day. After a painful 30 minutes of extra time, Real defeated Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday.
Local media stated that Vinicius did not practice with the team on Friday, their final session before their league match, instead staying at the club.
“We have given him an extra day’s rest because he is still very tired,” Ancelotti told reporters.
Tomorrow, he’ll be fully functional to aid us. His only issue is fatigue.”
After Vincius Jr. missed a late second-half penalty against Atletico, the Italian coach supported him.
“Vinicius is an indisputable player for us,” Ancelotti said. “He may have good or bad games. I accept that.
“Even if sometimes he doesn’t play well, even if he fails, he has been so important for this club that I can’t argue with that.”
Real is second in LaLiga after winning two of their past six games.
The defending champions are tied on 57 points with Barcelona, who have a game in hand and go to Atletico, third and one point behind, on Sunday. The Villarreals are fifth.
Due of time constraints, we don’t feel fresh. We can play with talent, attitude, and intelligence on the pitch. There are multiple winning methods. There are those who defend skillfully.”
After their midweek Champions League match, he said his players needed extra motivation for Saturday’s game.
“Obviously, in terms of motivation, you have to push the players more in a game like tomorrow’s compared to Wednesday’s game against Atletico,” he said.
“In the Champions League the motivation comes by itself, tomorrow you have to push more.”
