Real Madrid News
Barcelona dressing room really angry with Vinicius Jr’s behaviour – report
Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final second-leg clash was somehow overshadowed by Vinicius Jr’s. antics in Catalonia.
According to a report from SPORT, the Barcelona dressing is really angry with the Brazilian’s on-field behaviour and they do not understand why he confronted the Blaugrana players and made derogatory comments.
Vinicius had a feud with as many as three Barcelona players during the game. In the 27th minute, he had a strong disagreement with Gavi which was followed by a yellow card for both players.
He then went to celebrate his opening goal, imitating Cristiano Ronaldo’s action from 2015, by touching the Club World Cup rosette.
In the 85th minute, he had a feud with Ferran Torres before being replaced. Before getting off the field, the Brazilian was heard shouting, “Shut up, you’re terrible” towards the Barcelona forward. Between all that, he was involved in a constant tussle with Ronald Araujo.
Such was Vinicius’ frustration that it took him several Real Madrid players to calm him down to prevent him from seeing the second yellow.
If the Brazilian had received his second booking, he would have gone on to miss the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on May 6.
From the lot, Barcelona defender Araujo was the one who voiced the anger of his teammates, saying that Vinicius must change his attitude on the pitch.
“Vinicius needs to focus on playing football. He is a great player, but my head got a little hot tonight because he kept telling our players this and that throughout the match,” said the Uruguayan after the game.
As SPORT reports, Real Madrid have always defended Vinicius and they will continue to do so as they believe there is a campaign against him that is set to destabilize him. The management believes the anger is because of his age and the player will mature with time.
Real Madrid’s performance against Real Betis was shambolic, to say the least as the team faced many of the problems that have haunted them over the past couple of years.
But on a night where most of the attackers struggled to create anything of note, Dean Huijsen emerged as a lone bright spark for Los Blancos.
Huijsen keeps his promise
As reported by MARCA, Huijsen was the standout performer for Real Madrid, marshalling the backline with real authority even as the team struggled around him.
There has been a noticeable shift in the young defender’s mentality this season, with the player showing more competitive nature and looking much fiercer.
This is an attitude Huijsen had always promised, having inherited the iconic number four shift from David Alaba, a number he associates with his idols Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro.
“What I do know is that I’ll give everything of myself every day, whether in training or in a game,” he vowed, and at La Cartuja he delivered on that word.
His primary task was neutralising Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez, and he did so superbly, drying up the Colombian’s supply and repeatedly anticipating danger.
He also held his own in a niggly battle with Antony, refusing to be ruffled by one of Betis’ most inspired performers.
His composure on the ball, one of the qualities that has elevated him, saw him venture forward, forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper in the 11th minute and later heading against the woodwork.
The Konate partnership grows
Alongside him, Ibrahima Konate did his job, albeit without matching his partner’s brilliance.
The Frenchman was a little less assured, both in and out of possession, reflecting the two speeds of the centre-back pairing.
Huijsen looks settled and increasingly commanding, while Konate is still building the sharpness needed to reach his best in white.
Nonetheless, the partnership is heading in the right direction, and in Huijsen, Real Madrid appear to have unearthed a genuine leader for an area that has long been a weakness.
Each performance is also an argument to Luis de la Fuente, as the defender looks to reclaim the Spain spot he lost before the World Cup.
