Vinicius Junior is a player used to smiling who has gotten used to the ups and downs of being a Real Madrid player. It came as a promise and with Solari it became one of the biggest realities of the 2018-19 season. When it shone the most, the Champions League tie against Ajax arrived, an unfortunate memory for the madridista in general and for Vini in particular. In March 2019, the winger suffered a ligament tear that halted his progression. Two years later, he attends The country and analyzes how he lived that moment and everything he lived after, such as the return of Zidane, his relationship with the goal and dribbling or his best moment in Madrid. All this, with the visit of Atalanta this Tuesday (9:00 p.m., Movistar Champions League) as a backdrop, in which they must try to assert the 0-1 of the first leg …
Time of injury: “Since my injury I forgot about the set. I don't see the photos, because it's a very sad day for me. I was fine, I had played the first leg well. It was a day that all Madridistas knew we could win, and it was very difficult for everyone (…). All the work I had done for this match … Going out after 40 minutes is a bit difficult (…). All the players helped me by putting balls for me to do something different (. ..). I broke in a previous play. And I thought: 'It is not possible that I will have to leave this game. I will continue, I will continue, I will continue.' And a ball arrived. And I had to run so 50 meters … “.
Return with a new coach (Zidane) and miss the Copa América: “It was complicated. I knew I could go to the Copa América … I always want to play, I want to be in all the games, but things are at the right time, and this time was not mine … When you get injured, you think quite a lot: you do everything right, and for one move you have to leave the season for two or three months.
Time to return to normal: “Six or seven months. I stayed two or three months without playing, and when you put your boots back on you always think a lot about where you can put your foot, where you can't put it. I think I always spent six months doubting. And when it was cold It hurt without doing anything. I was going to put the boot on and it was hurting. “
Did it affect dribbling?: “In one-on-one, the center-back always wants to hit, and then you have to be more careful. At first, of course. Now I don't think about it, and I don't think about injuring myself again.”
Goal to Osasuna with tears in celebration: “After so long, to be able to score, and at the Bernabéu, where the fans love me so much … I had returned, I was not as good as before. The demand in Madrid is very great, the pressure, everything … When I did that goal I felt a relief… “.
The goal, joy or relief?: “More joy. Always. The goal is the result of all the work we do. The goal gives us the peace of mind to play more times, to be better, to have more confidence. The goal is the most beautiful moment in football.”
Dribbling: “Dribbling for me is easier than scoring. I have things more under control. I know that I am very good at one-on-one, and that the defender always thinks a lot when he is going to play against me (…). Everyone The dribbles that I do now at Real Madrid I used to do on the street. And without fear. From São Gonçalo, I was never afraid of doing things, I was never afraid of facing an opponent, and that will always be the case. “
Dreamed moment: “It would be something like what I did against Barcelona, that I left three players, I left them on the ground, although I couldn't score the goal. That would be one of the most important goals for me, one of the most beautiful as well.”
Greatest achievement with Madrid: “Winning the League is the most important moment for me, the most important trophy so far. And playing 100 games with this team, because only three legends played 100 games at this age, and they are all from Spain (Raúl, Camacho and Casillas ) “.
Play with Benzema: “Karim is incredible. I have been a fan of his since when I played in Brazil and watched his games. Playing with Karim is easy. He is the best forward of the moment. Playing with Karim is good for me, it is always having an idol with me. He says the things I have to do, and he also likes to play with me. “