Real Madrid News
Bayern Munich legend heaps praise on Real Madrid superstar – ‘Reminds me of Robben and Ribery’
At a time when Vinicius Jr. has faced fierce criticism for his inconsistent performances in recent matches, the forward has received some welcome support from none other than Philipp Lahm.
The German football legend recently wrote a column for The Athletic, where he talked about Vinicius’ abilities and how it reminds him of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
What Lahm said about Vinicius
Lahm started by praising Vinicius’ pace and acceleration in the final third, which makes him a dangerous entity in the final third.
“Vini Jr. impresses me a lot. Particularly his ability to do things at such high speed and to help begin attacking moves in his own half. That makes him incredibly difficult to cope with from a full-back’s perspective,” he said.
With over 500 competitive appearances for Bayern Munich, Lahm has played some of the best wingers in football during his time. He is, therefore, well aware of what it takes to defend against a top winger.
Talking about Vinicius, Lahm said, “Perhaps what is less appreciated is just how physically fit he is and how he is able to hold his acceleration: he can run 70 metres without losing speed, and he can still finish brilliantly at the end of one of those runs.”
The German went on to admit that Vinicius reminds me of Robben and Ribery, two of Bayern’s most lethal wingers in the 21st century.
“His dribbling and changes of direction remind me of Robben and Ribéry. However, he tends to be less diligent defensively, which offers opportunities to attack in transitional moments. Defending him with the ball is harder.
“I don’t think Vini Jr can ever be neutralised, but it’s crucial not to give him space to move inside,” he said.
Finally, Lahm explained how a team can possibly neutralise Vinicius, who recently picked up a knock against Barcelona, by denying him time and space to work with.
“You have to deny him the angles and space that allow him to drive towards the penalty box. Push him outwards, always towards the touchline,” he concluded.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid hope captain will resume group training tomorrow and be ready for Villarreal
Real Madrid received a major boost in training today as Kylian Mbappe participated in the group session, indicating his readiness for the upcoming game against Villarreal.
The French superstar had returned from international duty with a knee injury, but seems to have left it behind and appears ready to start at the Santiago Bernabeu come Saturday.
What about Federico Valverde?
Now, according to AS, Federico Valverde was not part of the group training session today at Valdebebas. Instead, he was involved in an individual session away from his teammates.
However, Real Madrid hope that their club captain will be able to resume working with the rest of the squad on Thursday, putting him in the fray to return in time for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal.
Valverde is currently recovering from an ankle sprain that he sustained in Real Madrid’s 2-1 derby defeat against Atletico Madrid prior to the international break.
The Uruguayan midfielder was on the receiving end of a harsh tackle from Kang-In Lee, which left him injured, ruling him out of action for the national team.
The 28-year-old stayed behind in Madrid and has worked hard on his recovery, with things progressing in the right direction.
What now remains to be seen is whether he can jump back into group training session on Thursday, which would put him on the path to return to action against Villarreal.
A key player for Mourinho
So far this season, Valverde has emerged as a permanent fixture in the team under new manager Jose Mourinho.
The Real Madrid captain has started all of the team’s eight matches in all competitions this term, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
His potential availability for Saturday’s clash against Villarreal will come as a major boost for Mourinho & co. Everything will depend on how things progress in tomorrow’s training session at Valdebebas.
With Ibrahima Konate also recovering from his knee sprain, Real Madrid have only three players sidelined currently: Raul Asencio, who recently underwent surgery, Rodrygo Goes, who is a long-term absentee, and Ferland Mendy, who has resumed work with the ball.
