In a press conference this Friday, ahead of the 28th round of La Liga against Villarreal, Carlo Ancelotti clarified the situation regarding Vinicius Junior, who was absent from training that day.
After securing qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti and his players will take on Villarreal this Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Before the first FIFA international break of 2025, the Madrid side will face another crucial match following a gruelling clash against Atlético Madrid. On Friday, the players held their final training session, but to everyone’s surprise, Vinicius Junior was not present alongside his teammates. According to early reports from the press, the Brazilian winger is experiencing discomfort in his thigh and could be a doubt for the clash against the Yellow Submarine.
Arriving in the press room at Real Madrid’s Ciudad complex ahead of this crucial title race fixture, Carlo Ancelotti addressed the concerns. According to the 65-year-old Madrid coach, there is no need to worry about Vinicius Junior, who has simply been given a rest after the match against Los Colchoneros.
Ancelotti’s full press conference
How is the team doing?
“We are still in the recovery process. Very little time has passed since the last match, and not everyone has fully recovered. We will be in better shape tomorrow. This is something we need to consider when preparing for this match against a tough opponent. We must play a smart game to try and win.”
“We need to put in extra effort. We won’t have our usual freshness since we haven’t had enough time to recover, but we need to show quality, the right attitude, and intelligence. There isn’t just one way to win. We need to play a smart game.”
How is Vinicius?
“We have given him an extra day of rest because he is still very fatigued. He will be available tomorrow and in top form to help us. He has no issues, just fatigue. Vini is an undisputed player for us. He may have better or worse games, but I never question him. He has been so important to this club that I cannot question him.”
Asencio called up for Spain
“We celebrated it; it is very good news for him. He deserves it because of the hard work and professionalism he has shown since he arrived. He has been excellent, with a great level of commitment. I hope this will be the first of many call-ups.”
What do you think about LaLiga scheduling this match on Saturday, knowing you played in the Champions League on Wednesday?
“Since January, we haven’t stopped playing every three days. We are in mid-March now, and it’s too much—even for me, and I don’t play! There is no time to recover from the pressure of the matches, but I can’t do anything about it. The only way to slow this down is to stop, but I don’t want to stop because I love what I do. Priority is given to the least important aspect—the TV rights, the money… And what comes last is the players’ recovery and the risk of injuries.”
Season assessment
“Despite all the difficulties, we are in March still competing in the three most important competitions—La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey—fighting and giving our all. This hasn’t happened in the past three years, and it is a very good thing. We need to improve, yes, but we are not that bad.”
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