Bayern Munich legend heaps praise on Real Madrid superstar – ‘Reminds me of Robben and Ribery’ | OneFootball

At a time when Vinicius Jr. has faced fierce criticism for his inconsistent performances in recent matches, the forward has received some welcome support from none other than Philipp Lahm.

The German football legend recently wrote a column for The Athletic, where he talked about Vinicius’ abilities and how it reminds him of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

What Lahm said about Vinicius

Lahm started by praising Vinicius’ pace and acceleration in the final third, which makes him a dangerous entity in the final third.

“Vini Jr. impresses me a lot. Particularly his ability to do things at such high speed and to help begin attacking moves in his own half. That makes him incredibly difficult to cope with from a full-back’s perspective,” he said.

With over 500 competitive appearances for Bayern Munich, Lahm has played some of the best wingers in football during his time. He is, therefore, well aware of what it takes to defend against a top winger.

Vinicius is going through a tough phase. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Talking about Vinicius, Lahm said, “Perhaps what is less appreciated is just how physically fit he is and how he is able to hold his acceleration: he can run 70 metres without losing speed, and he can still finish brilliantly at the end of one of those runs.”

The German went on to admit that Vinicius reminds me of Robben and Ribery, two of Bayern’s most lethal wingers in the 21st century.

“His dribbling and changes of direction remind me of Robben and Ribéry. However, he tends to be less diligent defensively, which offers opportunities to attack in transitional moments. Defending him with the ball is harder.

“I don’t think Vini Jr can ever be neutralised, but it’s crucial not to give him space to move inside,” he said.

Finally, Lahm explained how a team can possibly neutralise Vinicius, who recently picked up a knock against Barcelona, by denying him time and space to work with.

“You have to deny him the angles and space that allow him to drive towards the penalty box. Push him outwards, always towards the touchline,” he concluded.