Ancelotti makes drastic decision regarding Vinicius
Real Madrid coach demoted Brazilian on penalty conversion: responsibility now falls on Mbappé
Real Madrid’s penalty crisis , with five shots from 11 metres missed this season, has led Carlo Ancelotti to make a decision, with no room for emotion: Vinícius Júnior , despite having a fantastic season, will stop converting penalty kicks.
The privilege and responsibility now belongs to Kylian Mbappé , the club’s main star and the man in whom Ancelotti places the greatest trust in decisive moments.
The decision to change came after the game against Valencia, marked by another penalty missed by the Brazilian international. It was the third time on his personal account without success and enough for the Italian coach to not want to take any more risks and change the protagonist.
«The decision has already been made: if there is a penalty against Arsenal , the person responsible for converting it will be Kylian Mbappé (…) The technical committee considers that there is no player who is clearly specialized in this matter. If the Frenchman is not successful, the baton passes to Bellingham », revealed journalist José Félix Díaz in Marca .
The Brazilian is therefore out of the list, a tactical decision, which carries psychological weight, given the strong character of the Brazilian striker, so it cannot be ruled out that the coach’s decision will leave its mark. Especially because he is a player who is fighting for the Ballon d’Or.
Vinícius has 19 goals and 13 assists in 42 games, but has already missed three penalties. Mbappé took the eighth penalty, missed two, but now he will be able to see his confidence grow without competition.
Ancelotti’s attitude is seen as a new manifestation of firmness, regardless of the player and what he contributes to the team, a pragmatism that has already won him several trophies throughout his career.
