Real Madrid megastar opens up on dramatic win against Man City – ‘WiIl do great things for this shirt’ | OneFootball

The atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium during Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Manchester City was intense, with the home crowd eager to remind Vinicius Jr. that the current Ballon d’Or winner is Rodri, not him.

Every time he touched the ball in the opening minutes, he was met with loud boos from the Manchester City supporters.

They even unveiled a banner directed at him, making their stance clear. However, instead of letting the hostility affect him, the Brazilian forward delivered a strong performance, proving his resilience on the pitch.

Vinicius reviews the match

Apart from his contribution on the field, Vinícius was also a key figure in the press room. After reviewing the match, Vinicius addressed two major points—his yellow card and his long-term plans.

Vinicius Jr. played a crucial role against Manchester City. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Regarding the cautions, he expressed his frustration, stating that referees often fail to protect players who are repeatedly fouled. Instead, he finds himself booked despite being on the receiving end of challenges.

“It’s difficult sometimes. The referees don’t defend the player who gets kicked. When I get kicked, I get the yellow card,” he began saying.

He acknowledged that his teammates and coaching staff help him maintain focus during such moments, and while he does not consider himself perfect, he remains determined to win by any means necessary.

“But my teammates and coaches try to help me stay focused. I’m not a saint, but I want to win whatever way I can.”

Pleased with the performance

The winger was visibly pleased with his performance, feeling that he was back to his best. He emphasised that personal achievements such as scoring or winning individual awards are secondary, as the ultimate goal is to help Real Madrid succeed.

Vinicius Jr. was named the MVP against City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“It wasn’t bad, I was able to play a great game, we defended very well and it doesn’t matter who scores or is the MVP, we are here to do great things for this shirt and put Madrid in the top spot,” he noted.

The Brazilian also made a lighthearted remark about Kylian Mbappe’s goal, suggesting that the most important thing was securing the victory, regardless of how it happened.

He also admitted that he attempted to shoot in the final moments of the match, but the ball ended up with Jude Bellingham.

“The important thing was to win, it doesn’t matter how it happens. On the last ball, I try to shoot and it goes to Jude.”

Despite the positive result, Vinícius is not taking anything for granted. He stressed that the tie is far from over and that Real Madrid must maintain the same defensive discipline in the return leg.

“There is still a lot of game left in the return leg, we have to defend as we have defended today and have our fans with us to make it a magical night,” he explained.

With the backing of their fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, he believes they can create another unforgettable European night and advance further in the competition.

Source: MARCA