Real Madrid News
Vinicius Jr remains a doubt for Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano despite suspension reversal
Real Madrid were handed a major boost as the RFEF decided to rescind Vinicius Jr’s red card, which he picked up against Valencia.
The forward, who was a victim of racial abuse by Valencia supporters, is now eligible to play against Rayo Vallecano tonight. The reversal of the suspension came as a shock to many, including Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez.
Nevertheless, it is unlikely Vinicius Junior will play against Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu later tonight.
Mario Cortegana of The Athletic suggests his involvement will depend on how the player is feeling heading into the game as he is dealing with a minor knee injury. He will undergo tests on today morning to determine if he will feature.
As things stand, the feeling is that it is ‘very difficult’ that he will against Rayo, especially after what he has gone through these past few days.
The Brazilian, who has been involved in over 40 goals in all competitions this season, has received unwavering support from athletes across the sporting world.
Real Madrid themselves are preparing a massive show of support for Vinicius against Rayo Vallecano. Even if the forward does not play tonight, he will be present in the stadium and will witness a large banner from Real Madrid condemning racism.
Although Vinicius is dejected following the events that unfolded at the weekend, he is expected to attend the game. But it is not fully confirmed he won’t take part in the game tonight, and much will depend on the outcome of the tests he undergoes.
Vinicius could take part in Real Madrid’s remaining matches in La Liga, though, including the game against Sevilla on Saturday. If he does not play tonight, the Brazilian will look to end the campaign on a positive note by scoring in the last couple of matches against Sevilla and Athletic Club respectively.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
