“He always gave me confidence, and scolded me when I needed it” – Vinicius Junior on Carlo Ancelotti
One of the big beneficiaries of Carlo Ancelotti's second spell in charge of Real Madrid has been Vinicius Junior. The 23-year-old, who joined Los Blancos in 2018 from Flamengo, has gone from strength to strength over the past three years, to the point where he is now the favorite to take home the Ballon d'Or 2024.
Speaking with UEFA (via Brand) ahead of this weekend's Champions League final, Vinicius spoke incredibly highly of Don Carlo, and the impact he has made on his game since 2021.
“He did everything for me. He always gave me confidence, and he scolded me when I needed it. We developed a really good relationship. He cares about me as much as I care about him.
“He changed me as a player – not only on the field, but also in the way I think about training and development. He says that humility is my greatest virtue, because I always listen to others. When I score a goal in a game, I always want my teammates to score as well, so I'm in a better position. I am not moved by vanity, to play with the best players, the big stars. Every day he teaches me more on and off the field.
Vinicius will see his second Champions League title with Real Madrid on Saturday, which marks an outstanding one for him and his teammates. Ancelotti deserves huge credit for navigating the campaign regardless of the result at Wembley Stadium, and his players – especially the big hitters – know it.
