Real Madrid icon has concerns about Vinicius – ‘Since Mbappe arrived, he has shown a bit of fear’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid star and director Pedja Mijatovic did not hold back when analysing the Merengues’ 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Speaking on Cadena SER (h/t Mundo Deportivo), the former player was direct in his criticism of the team’s poor performance, particularly highlighting their lack of presence in the second half.

“In the first half, Madrid were not good, but at least they were competing,” Mijatovic said. “In the second half, Madrid did not exist. They were very poor.”

Looking ahead to the return leg, he was not optimistic: “If the team turns up like this, it will be very dangerous.”

Mijatovic then expressed concern over the “image of helplessness” the team projected.

“It has been a long time since I have seen Real Madrid play a Champions League match like this, without creating a single chance,” he said, going as far as to praise Thibaut Courtois for preventing a heavier scoreline: “The result was actually flattering.”

Lack of Reaction and Vinicius Under Pressure

Mijaotivic did not shy away from the topic of Kylian Mbappe’s presence in the squad and how it may be affecting Vinicius Jr.

“Since Mbappe arrived, Vinicius has shown a bit of fear – uncertainty about what to do now, especially in trying to convince the Madridistas who is better,” said Mijatovic.

Vinicius has been well below his level this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

For him, this dynamic has led to both players underperforming: “They have not delivered as we expected.”

The ex-forward was equally critical of the players’ body language during the match: “I do not see the kind of reaction we saw from Madrid last season.

“I saw impotence, especially in the players’ faces, as if they were thinking, ‘Let us just get out of this, 3–0 is fine.’ And that is what worries me.”

Criticism of Ancelotti

Mijatovic also took aim at Carlo Ancelotti’s approach. “He wants to please everyone,” he remarked, before pointing out that “at a club as big as Real Madrid, there have always been starters and substitutes, like Nacho or Guti, who were super-subs.”

“Ancelotti expects more from some players who are neither physically nor mentally in the right condition to perform as he wants, and that creates confusion and a lack of confidence,” he further added.