Real Madrid News
‘You have to go through these hurdles’ – Real Madrid ace finally breaks silence on infamous feud with Tchouameni
Federico Valverde has arrived in Uruguay full of confidence and motivation ahead of the upcoming World Cup, with the Real Madrid midfielder now preparing to play a major leadership role for his national side.
The 27-year-old joined the Uruguay camp as preparations officially began for the tournament, and it is clear that the midfielder is approaching the competition with enormous excitement.
Under Marcelo Bielsa, Valverde has now become one of the captains of the national team, something he openly acknowledged while speaking to reporters upon his arrival.
The midfielder admitted that he now feels like “a role model” within the squad.
The Tchouameni incident
During the interview, Valverde was also asked about his recent difficult moments off the pitch, including the widely discussed situation involving his Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Rather than avoiding the topic, the Uruguayan answered calmly and reflected on how the experience helped him grow personally.
While discussing the matter, Valverde explained, “I feel great. I’ve had the support and affection of all the Real Madrid fans and the club as well.
“Sometimes you have to go through these little hurdles in football and in life to learn to grow and mature,” he said, before adding that the situation could help him “be a better captain in the coming years.”
Valverde fully focused on World Cup dream
Despite the distractions surrounding recent events, Valverde said that his entire focus is now on helping Uruguay enjoy a memorable World Cup campaign.
The midfielder spoke passionately about what representing his country means to him and admitted that winning the tournament remains the ultimate dream for any footballer.
“I’m always excited about lifting the trophy. It’s what you want most, what you always dreamed of as a kid: playing for the national team and lifting the World Cup.”
The Real Madrid midfielder lastly referenced the unforgettable 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa, where Uruguay reached the semi-finals and finished fourth.
“We grew up with that image and we’d love to be able to match it, to make Uruguay proud,” he added.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
