CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Real Madrid’s Vinicius “didn’t show any respect” and frightened Chelsea
The consensus was that the Brazilian striker was the greatest threat to The Blues in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“I need to be the first one to believe this is possible,” Frank Lampard lamented his team’s situation in the press conference after Real Madrid overcame his Chelsea 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. He watched on from the side of the pitch, and he would go on to talk about the dangers caused to his well-beaten team by one man in particular: Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius to torment Chelsea again
The new Chelsea boss wasn’t the only one purring at the performance of the Brazilian forward back home in England. In the television studio, Lampard’s former national teammate Rio Ferdinand explained it in his own way. “He didn’t show any respect towards Reece James. Every time he had the ball, he went straight for him,” the Manchester United legend said, adding that he expected Vini to “do the same at Stamford Bridge.” Ominous thinking.
The British press was also eloquent in its analyses of the blossoming star.
“Is there a winger more electric than Vinicius in world football?” they asked in The Telegraph adding that “he was really explosive on the left, where he caused endless problems.” In The Guardian they said that “Vinicius mercilessly humiliated Chelsea” and that the Brazilian was the player sent to hurt Lampard’s men. “Madrid disarmed Chelsea by making Vinicius arrive from the left.”
The BBC, for its part, focused on both Real Madrid wings. “Vinicius and Rodrygo were problematic.” Chilwell being sent off made Lampard’s challenge all the harder.
Fofana was one of the biggest victims on another great night for the Brazilian. “Vinicius is the face that Fofana will see in his nightmares tonight,” suggested Sky Sports. “A superb performance. He played a large part of the game as if he were unmarked. And he went passed Fofana in the play for Benzema’s goal.” Meanwhile, in the Mirror it simply read: “Fofana couldn’t deal with Vinicius.”
The Brazilian was irrepressible for the Blue defense. He created four chances, more than all of Chelsea combined (three). He completed four dribbles, put in five crosses, touched the ball 19 times in the opposition area and was key to the goal with which Benzema opened the scoring.
He is the top dribbler in this edition of the Champions League, with 36 completed, and with the assist for Marco Asensio for the second, he has already participated in 35 goals for Madrid this season (21 goals and 14 final passes) in all competitions, more than any other player in the Spanish League.
In England they have it clear. Vinicius will once again be Chelsea’s big headache next Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. This time Lampard has no excuse for not knowing.