Vinicius's pause

Last Sunday, in Vila-real, Vinicius picked up the ball from a corner, held, outlined, and took a shot with effect at the post furthest from where he was. Despite his stretch, Aitor Fernández could not stop the shot. It was the first goal of the match. And the second in a week for the Brazilian attacker, achieved in the same way: he controlled the ball inside the area and beat Roberto, with a certain pause, with a certain coldness, but quick execution … and with the desired result. Definitely, the work that has been developing in recent times in Valdebebas begins to bear fruit …

When the young Brazilian talent landed in Madrid, Julen Lopetegui sent Castilla to take off. Vinicius, who at first didn't quite understand the decision, accepted it and went to work under Solari's orders: he scored four goals in five games and was even sent off against Celta B. After the change of coach of the first team, Solari decided to bet on him, but things were not working. His eagerness to please led him to make mistakes in the face of the rival goal, which caused a certain hilarity in rival hobbies, while the player was undermined from the inside although he never lost an iota of his personality on the field of play.

But everything changed with the arrival of Zidane.

The French coach returned to the Madrid bench in March 2019. After a painful end to the season, where he had to watch him from the outside when he was injured in a Champions League match against Ajax. But the 2019-20 campaign was his jump. The French coach began to work with the Brazilian after training, with a view to improving his definition in the final meters, but above all, to have the patience and tranquility necessary to know how to choose which was the best option facing the rival goal according to whatever the circumstances. Another of his mentors has been Karim Benzema. From the first day of his arrival, the Frenchman has acted as the young Brazilian's 'soccer father'. And many, good and helpful are the advice that he has been giving you in recent times. One of his first details was left when he scored in Bruges in the last game of the group stage: after a commotion in the area, the Brazilian put the outside of his right foot to send the ball just to the other side of where they were both your partner as rivals.

His great leap came, and in what way: in the Classic played days before the break in March 2020. Kroos showed him the way and the Brazilian entered on the left wing, faced Piqué and his center-kick ended up within the networks of Ter Stegen. It was the first goal of the match, which paved the white victory. In the stoppage due to the Coronavirus pandemic, he prepared with a physical trainer. He modified his eating habits, trained at home, and learned to visualize the rival goal. Upon returning, his change was noticeable in excess. And in a big way: against Mallorca he defined with mastery: Modric filtered the ball and Vinicius raised it above Reina. It was his third goal in his last seven starts (plus, he had given two more assists). And he was even about to score again with the same resource, but the ball crashed into the post. That goal against Mallorca was the answer to his work, talent and ambition.

With Hazard's loss due to injury, Vinicius is taking advantage of the time that Zidane is giving him: more serene, more focused and more confident facing the rival goal. Vinicius has found the break his game needed and his definition.