Vinicius Junior will be available on Saturday for the trip from Real Madrid to Villarreal, even though he gets an extra day off after the midweek outing of Los Blancos, says Carlo Ancelotti.
Madrid defeated Buren Atletico Madrid with 4-2 on penalties after the second stage of their Champions League Last-16 draw on Wednesday, with Antonio Rudiger turning the decisive kick.
Vinicius, who during the 90 minutes missed a penalty that Madrid would have forwarded without extra time, and then missed on Friday training.
But Ancelotti has reassured fans that the Brazilian will be involved in their next outing in Laliga and says: “We have given him an extra day of rest because he is still very tired.
“Tomorrow he will be available and at full power to help us. He has no problems, just a little fatigue.”
The Italian coach then supported the 24-year-old after his penalty miss in the Metropolitano Stadium.
“For us, Vinicius is an indisputable player for me,” Ancelotti added. “He may have better or worse games, moments. But I don't dispute that.
“Even if he sometimes doesn't play well, even if he fails, he has been so important for this club that I can't argue about it.”
Vinicius has 15 target statements at Laliga this campaign, scored 10 and assists five. Only Robert Lewandowski (23), Kylian Mbappe (21), Raphinha (20), Lamine Yamal and Ante Budimir (both 16).
Madrid has had some bumps on the road in their LaLiga title defense and only won two of their last six games in the competition.
The title defender is level at 57 points with leaders Barcelona, who have a competition in hand and on Sunday to Atletico travel – in third place behind the duo.
“We have to make extra effort,” said Ancelotti. “We can't feel fresh because we have not had the time.
“But we can put other things on the field: quality, a good posture, playing an intelligent game … There is not only one way to win. There are, for example, many defenses.
“It is clear that in terms of motivation you have to push the players more in a game like tomorrow compared to Wednesday's game against Atletico.
“In the Champions League the motivation comes naturally, tomorrow you have to push more.”
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