Arsenal’s win in Europe may have ended Real Madrid’s run, but according to reports from Spain, the emotional response is far from over.
Arsenal’s Champions League defeat of Real Madrid is still being felt in Spain.
According to Marca, the result has had an emotional impact on key players, most visibly Vinicius Junior, whose ‘cold’ performance against Athletic Club at the weekend reflects a wider sense of frustration inside the Bernabéu.
Writing in Marca, José Félix Díaz reports that Vinicius went into the match “stung” by what had unfolded against Arsenal.
The piece states that the Arsenal defeat was the reason the Brazilian stepped onto the pitch “charged up, wanting to turn around a situation that has become very difficult for Real Madrid in general, and for him in particular, because of his sporting ambition.”
That ambition took a hit with their elimination. So did his connection with the crowd.
During the second leg against Arsenal, parts of the Bernabéu whistled Vinicius, who finished the tie with just two shots on target from both legs. According to the article, those whistles hurt him. What hurt more, however, was exiting a competition that, in the words of the piece, “measures the real moment of a team,” a competition where Real Madrid has defined itself in recent years.
The article makes it clear that Vinicius was not trying to send a message to the fans. “All the Brazilian wanted was forgiveness from the fans through his football and a win, not with gestures toward a stand that had welcomed the team warmly.”
He reportedly felt ‘in debt’ after the defeat, but also frustrated by the criticism he received from the stands. That created a visible coldness in his body language during the next match, which those close to the player said came from “a sense of guilt about what happened at the Bernabéu.”
He played the full match against Athletic, searching for a goal only to have one ruled out by VAR. Federico Valverde eventually found the winner in the 93rd minute.
In the days since the Arsenal defeat, Vinicius has apparently made it clear to the club that he wants to stay. Speaking to the club’s official media, he said, “I’m happy with this number. I hope I can reach many more wins. We have important matches coming up and the challenge of winning titles. It’s a source of pride, a motivation.” His appearance against Athletic marked his 200th victory in a Real Madrid shirt.
Interest from abroad, however, has not gone away. The article notes that Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia has made him a top priority after missing out on Mohamed Salah and seeing Neymar depart. Even so, the Brazilian has made it clear that his aim is to continue making history at Madrid.
Talks over a new contract are expected in the coming weeks.
The underlying tension between Vinicius and the fans, though downplayed by his camp, is significant. “It’s not good to be at odds with your own supporters,” said Luis Figo, quoted in the piece. “Other fans don’t matter to you, but you want your own to love you.”
The fact that a single result, even in a competition as big as the Champions League, could spark such introspection and tension within Real Madrid says everything about Arsenal’s performance.
They came to the Bernabéu and left a lasting mark.