City Ballon d’Or banner gave me ‘more strength’ – Vinícius Júnior
Vinícius Júnior said a banner from Manchester City fans backing Rodri in their Ballon d’Or dispute inspired him to put in a man-of-the-match performance in Real Madrid’s 3-2 comeback win in the first leg Champions League match on Tuesday.
Fans at the Etihad unfurled a banner ahead of the knockout phase playoff showing City midfielder Rodri with the Ballon d’Or trophy he won ahead of Vinícius last year, along with the Oasis song title “Stop Crying Your Heart Out.”
Vinícius was named Player of the Match by UEFA after starring for Madrid on the night, including creating Jude Bellingham’s 92nd-minute winner by lobbing a pass over City’s stranded goalkeeper Ederson.
Madrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October last year, in protest of Vinícius missing out on the trophy.
“I don’t know if Vini saw it,” Coach Carlo Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference. “But having seen the game, if he saw it, it was a big motivation for him.”
City coach Pep Guardiola said he hadn’t seen the banner, while acknowledging that Vinícius is “an extraordinary player.”
Ancelotti said his side had a ‘slight advantage’ in the tie after the 3-2 win, with the second leg to come Wednesday at the Bernabéu.
“This is the way,” Ancelotti said. “We’ve been talking about it for a long time. The season really starts now, and despite all our difficulties, we’ve got a very good result.
Ancelotti said he expected two more senior defenders – Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba – to be available for the second leg.
–ESPN
