Vinicius Jr: Real Madrid Forward Admits Man City’s Banner Mocking His Ballon d’Or ‘Defeat’ Gave Him Strength in Champions League Tie
The Mockery at the Etihad Stadium
During the first leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off tie against Manchester City on Tuesday night, Vinicius Junior was met with a banner mocking his second-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting. Held up by Manchester City fans, the banner featured an image of City midfielder Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or trophy, accompanied by the phrase “Stop Crying Your Heart Out,” a reference to an Oasis song beloved by City supporters.
Vinicius Jr’s Reaction to the Mockery
A Source of Motivation
Vinicius admitted to noticing the banner and revealed that it served as extra motivation for him to perform. Following Real Madrid’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory at the Etihad Stadium, he spoke to Movistar, explaining that moments like these from opposing fans only fuel his desire to excel. He said, “Whenever the opposing fans do things like that, they give me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it.”
A Backfired Mockery: Real Madrid’s Late Comeback
Vinicius Turns the Tables
Despite the initial mockery, it was Vinicius who had the last laugh. The banner seemed to ignite a fire within the Brazilian forward, as he played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s dramatic turnaround. Trailing 2-1 with just five minutes remaining, Real Madrid scored two quick goals to clinch a 3-2 lead. Vinicius was involved in both goals, helping secure a vital advantage before the return leg in Madrid.
Rodri’s Response and the Backlash
The Controversial Moment
Although the banner was aimed at Vinicius, it was City midfielder Rodri who captured the moment on his phone from the stands while recovering from a long-term knee injury. The mockery didn’t sit well with everyone, with pundits like Jamie Carragher criticizing the banner. Carragher called it “absolutely ridiculous” and questioned the rationale behind mocking a player before a crucial match, suggesting that it may have backfired given the second leg still remained.
Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or Boycott
The Controversial Decision
The banner also alluded to Real Madrid’s decision not to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony after Vinicius lost out to Rodri. The club had boycotted the event, with president Florentino Perez citing changes in the voting system and expressing the belief that Vinicius deserved to win the prestigious award.
City’s Task: Overturning the Deficit
The Challenge Ahead
With the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu coming up next week, Manchester City now face the challenge of overturning a one-goal deficit. Pep Guardiola’s side will need to regroup and find a way to break down a resilient Real Madrid team that has shown time and again how well it thrives under pressure.
Tags: Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ballon d’Or, Champions League, Rodri, Pep Guardiola, Football
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