Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has responded to Vinicius Jr’s crucial penalty miss in the club’s 2-1 defeat to Valencia on Saturday, April 5. The Brazilian forward had a golden chance to put Los Blancos ahead after Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box, but his shot was denied by Valencia’s goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ancelotti admitted it’s been a tough season when it comes to penalty conversions, referencing other high-profile misses as well.
“Penalties? It’s been a difficult season. Bellingham missed, Mbappé missed, Vinicius missed… I wanted to give him some confidence,”
— Ancelotti via Madrid Xtra on X.
The Italian tactician’s words reveal his empathetic stance, as he tries to shield his players from excessive criticism and boost their morale. Despite the high-pressure moment, Ancelotti’s trust in Vinicius was evident, highlighting that the penalty was a vote of confidence more than anything else.
Vinicius’ miss proved costly as Real Madrid couldn’t recover, ultimately falling 2-1 to Valencia. The result was a blow in their pursuit of the La Liga title, but Ancelotti insists the season is far from over.
Real Madrid remains firmly in the title race, and Ancelotti appears keen on focusing forward rather than dwelling on the loss. He also made it clear that Vinicius Jr still has a key role to play, despite the setback.
With the business end of the season approaching, Los Blancos will aim to regroup, and fans can expect Vinicius Jr to come back stronger—hungry to make amends and drive Madrid’s attack in the upcoming fixtures.
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