Vinicius talks Mbappe, Arbeloa, Alonso, Militao, renewal, racism ahead of Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Following their shock loss to RCD Mallorca on Saturday, Real Madrid will aim to bounce back immediately as they take on Bayern Munich on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It will be the first leg of the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, and Alvaro Arbeloa & co. will have their task cut out against a rampant Bayern Munich outfit who have been near-unstoppable this term.

Ahead of the blockbuster encounter tomorrow night, Vinicius Jr. appeared in the pre-match press conference and discussed some important topics, including his relationship with former manager Xabi Alonso and current head coach Arbeloa.

On the game and the future

Kicking things off, the Brazilian superstar touched upon what Real Madrid need to do to win against Bayern, and how fans can influence the result.

“Surely, the connection between the players and the fans, that always changes the dynamic of home games and Champions League matches,” said Vinicius.

“A good team is coming, but we have experience in these kinds of games and hopefully we can do things well.”

Regarding the loss to Mallorca, he remarked: “There are good days and bad days, some days we’re more or less focused, that’s what happened in Mallorca. We were coming off the break and as the manager said, if you’re not at 200% you don’t win matches.”

One of the major topics surrounding Vinicius and Real Madrid over the past year has been his contract, which expires in 2027. There have been talks over a renewal, but no agreement yet. But the 25-year-old confirmed that he intends to stay at the club for a long time.

“I hope I can stay here for a long time. I still have a year left on my contract, but I’m very calm. I have the president’s confidence. At the right time, I’ll renew and stay here for a long time, because this is my dream club,” he said.

Regarding his own condition, physically and emotionally, Vinicius noted: “I’m feeling great now. I’ve had some tough times this season, when I wasn’t scoring and the fans were booing me, but it was all a learning experience.

“I’m physically fit. Traveling with the national team changes things a bit because everything changes. I’m working at the club and also at home with my physio to be 100% ready for my team.”

On Alonso and Arbeloa

Vinicius endured a tough first half of the season with his poor relationship with former boss Xabi Alonso being no secret. Elaborating on the matter, the forward stated:

“I played matches, but not many minutes. But every coach has their methods and I didn’t connect with him the way he wanted.

“But it was a learning experience and I hope I can continue with Arbeloa, with whom I have a wonderful connection and who has always given me confidence.”

Further discussing his equation with current manager Arbeloa, he added: “I’ve had a special connection with Arbeloa, just like I did with Ancelotti. He’s always made it clear what he wants from me. I’ve always given my best, and I’m going to keep doing so.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gone this long without scoring a goal. I’ve learned from this rough patch, and I want to keep learning. The best players always bounce back.”

Alonso and Vinicius did not have an easy relationship at Real Madrid. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

During the chat, Vinicius also briefly spoke about his outburst at Alonso following his substitution in the La Liga clash against Barcelona earlier in the season, saying:

“It wasn’t a nice moment, I apologised to everyone. I like to play every game and I didn’t come off in any of them. Later, with a clear head, you can understand that you made a mistake. I’m young and every day is a new experience where you can improve.”

On Mbappe, Militao, Kane

Vinicius then opened up on his fellow Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, who came under scrutiny after the Mallorca defeat, saying:

“People say a lot of things. Kylian is here to help us; he gives us confidence with his goals. We have to be focused tomorrow. It’s a tough match where great players make the difference, and Mbappe is one of them.”

On comments about him lacking in defensive efforts while playing with Mbappe in attack, the Brazilian remarked:

“Of course it bothers me, but people are there to say what they want. We have to listen to the manager. What comes from outside doesn’t affect us. We can make each other better.”

Regarding the question marks about the availability of Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane for the fixture tomorrow, Vinicius said:

“They’re a tough side because he scores a lot of goals, but they’ve got a really strong team with players who switch positions. Whoever plays, it’s going to be very difficult and we need to be prepared.”

On the recent return of Eder Militao to action after a four-month layoff, Vinicius said: “I’m really happy about his return. He’s one of my best friends. He’s the best centre-back in the world, and we’re better when we’re with him.

“When all the players are back, we’re stronger. Now Jude, Militao, Ceballos are returning…”

The Brazilian has become the face of the fight against racism in football and talked about the problem, saying:

“It’s a complicated issue, and it happens a lot. I hope Lamine [Yamal] can continue this fight as well. We have money, but poor Black people have more difficulties than we do.

“I’m not saying that Spain, Germany, or Portugal are racist countries, but there are racists in every country, and if we fight together, hopefully other players and people will stop suffering these things.”

Source: AS