These days the situation that has been generated around the figure of Vinicius and everything that moves around him is calling my attention. It is not the first time that this player has been at the center of the hurricane. It seems as if it is difficult for him to get rid of that halo that has been created over his person, his way of playing football and, above all, his way of celebrating goals and victories. I also find it curious that other Brazilian footballers have experienced a similar situation before. I understand that they are used to celebrating everything in their lives by dancing, which is their way of expressing their joy when they win, but, of course, we also have to put ourselves in the role of the one in front, the one who loses, and it is logical and human that They don’t like to be celebrated to their face, as I suppose they wouldn’t like to be celebrated in the same way either.
In these circumstances, as is being seen, the work of the coach is key and necessary. We have all had in our squads, some more and others less, this type of wayward players, who have a point of rebellion, who protest everything, who take advantage of the slightest opportunity to drop to the ground and try to deceive the referees… They Of course, in these actions they seek their good and that of their team, but sometimes they do not realize that they can provoke the opposite reaction and can create environments against that, at the moment of truth, they turn against themselves and against their team.
In terms of football, I am a fervent defender and admirer of Vinicius. It is one of those jewels that, from time to time, falls into the hands of a coach -I have not had that luck- and as such we also have to enjoy them. He has it all: speed, imbalance, dribbling, goal, vision of the game… that’s why I think he has plenty of fuss or those constant conversations with the referees and opponents. Luckily for him, he has fallen for the coach who can best help him overcome those situations that, in the long run, do him or his family no good.
I don’t know Ancelotti personally, but I admire him and I have no doubt that he is the ideal coach and suitable for Vinicius to improve in those behaviors that his fans may like, but those of the other clubs dislike so little. The other day we saw how Carlo told him, in the middle of the game, to talk to him, not to talk to the others. Even the referee was involved in the conversation. I am convinced that Ancelotti has been talking to the player about this matter for some time and he hits some good dialectical slaps to try to reverse the situation. Nevertheless, publicly, chooses to defend him, to ask for protection for him and a little more respect from everyone.
a different case
His case is not the same as Cristiano’s, but he has his points in common. Ronaldo also had to endure the environment against all the stadiums in which he played. The public image he conveyed seemed to have a point of arrogance, however, it clashed with the one he apparently showed in the locker room where he was a First Division currela. He was always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. And also, apparently, he had great details with the physios, the props and everyone who worked with the team. He never told it, but there was talk that he gave them gifts that fostered a good working environment.
In my experience with this type of footballer, I have never had cases as publicized as these, but I am aware that in some situations, no matter how much you tell them things, it is difficult for them to change. Especially if they are young… although I really don’t know if it is even more difficult to convince them of something when they are already 27 or 28 years old. There are footballers who find it difficult to understand that to be a starter it is not enough to perform well in matches and then, throughout the week, live from that performance until the next match. They think they have a secure position and that’s not fair to the teammates who train well all week and are watching what the other teammates are doing. What will they think of that situation? Those players, without meaning to, are also creating an internal problem that, as a coach, you have to know how to measure very well.
Among the footballers that I have had and have been able to have had a special situation, I remember Iván Alejo, who is now playing for Cádiz and, curiously, the other day against Sevilla he was sent off after seeing two yellow cards in the last seven minutes and his team was left with 10 and ended up losing the match. He came to Eibar from Alcorcón and spent a season with us. He was a skilled player, who he threw himself at a lot. At the slightest touch he would drop. I told him to hold back, I tried to take him to my ground, I told him that in many away games he threw the fans and the referee on us. It is not the same to do these actions in a big club than in a smaller one.
At the end of the season he asked me to help him move to another club. He wouldn’t tell me which one, but he wanted to go free. MHe said that he had spoken with the coach of the team that wanted him and that he had told him that he was going to be a safe starter. I tried to explain that it was not so easy. That he would have some training sessions and some teammates and that titles are not promised as well So, then you have to earn them. He ended up going to Getafe where Bordalás was, but Eibar got good money out of him, I think four million and a bit of euros.
Another difficult player, especially for the referees and opponents, was Raúl García. I had him in Osasuna when he was 25 years old. He arrived on loan from Atlético. It was then as it is now, but with ten years more. She protested everything. He was always calling for fouls and he never made any. Then, the reality is that he knew how to measure himself and they never expelled him, but he drove the referees crazy and the opposing fans took it out on him and, incidentally, against us. We talked about it a lot, but, of course, it was so competitive, so necessary for the team, that I couldn’t take it away from it, but it led me down the path of bitterness. However, outside the field, it has nothing to do with what it is inside. There it transforms. It’s like he has two different personalities. A great guy and a great player.
