Since the summer, Real Madrid have had two of the most talented players in the world: Vinícius Jr and Kylian Mbappé. Their partnership was supposed to dominate European football. Yet their cohabitation on the pitch is raising questions. Are they incompatible, or are they simply adapting?
Vinícius Jr shines on the left wing. His speed and dribbling skills make him an invaluable asset. For several seasons now, he has been Real Madrid’s strong point. Mbappé, for his part, also prefers to play on the left. At Paris Saint-Germain, that was his preferred position. At Real, he has to play as a centre-forward, a position he is less fond of. This redistribution of roles generates tactical tensions. Vinícius continues to shine, but Mbappé sometimes seems far from his best.
Vinícius Jr likes to keep the ball. His game is based on unpredictable acceleration and short combinations. Mbappé, on the other hand, prefers to go deep and make calls behind the defence. These different styles can be a strength or an obstacle. For the time being, they are struggling to find any real complementarity. The arrival of Mbappé has altered the attacking balance. Real Madrid’s game was based on Vinícius, with Rodrygo providing support.
Now, the midfielders have to adapt their passing and positioning. That takes time. The French-Brazilian duo still seem to be in the running-in phase, even if Kylian Mbappé is on the verge of rediscovering his best form. He has put in a string of top-class performances, scoring important goals against Atalanta, Pachuca and above all FC Sevilla, where he scored a masterpiece and provided the decisive pass for Brahim Diaz before Christmas.
Vinicius and Mbappé are made to play together
To make this partnership work, Carlo Ancelotti seems to be making the best decision. His first solution is to alternate positions. Mbappé could sometimes play on the left, while Vinícius could move into the centre. This would give them more freedom and surprises in the game. Another option already tried out by the Transalpine coach is to adjust the tactical system. A 4-4-2 formation, with the two stars in attack, would maximise their strengths. But it would be difficult to put Rodrygo on the bench, especially given his recent performances for Real Madrid. As a result, Don Carlo was forced to revert to a 4-3-3 formation, giving the Fantastic Three the freedom to switch at any time.
Despite the criticism, progress is being made. Their understanding is improving, with some successful interchanges in recent games, notably against Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final, where Vinicius and Mbappé both scored. The potential is immense. The duo could become formidable with time and hard work.
‘Vinicius is a unique player, a great player. I’ll be very happy to play with him, as I am with all the other players. I think great players know how to play together. He’s been incredible over the last few seasons. It’s up to me to adapt to the team. I’m going to do it as quickly as possible to help the team win,’ Kylian Mbappé declared a few weeks ago in comments relayed by RMC Sport. Before his presentation, the Auriverde player was also excited at the idea of forming a partnership with the 2018 world champion.
He admitted to having pestered the Bondynois before signing for Real Madrid, and for him, it is a privilege to play with a striker like him. The cohabitation between Vinícius Jr and Mbappé is not yet perfect. But it is not doomed to fail. With tactical adjustments and patience, they can establish themselves as one of the best attacks in Europe.
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