Vinicius Jr. was left furious after being handed a four-game suspension and spoke to the media following Real Madrid’s 4-3 victory over Roma. The Brazilian forward expressed his frustration with the timing of the disciplinary decision, questioned the lack of communication surrounding the new rule and defended himself against criticism, while also addressing his recent dip in form and the boos he has received from the Bernabéu crowd.
“I’ve always kept a cool head. I get kicked a lot and in the end… the card always goes to me,” Vinicius said in the mixed zone after Real Madrid’s stunning come back against Roma.
It was a surprise to see him stop to speak. But after learning that he had been handed a four-game suspension, he wanted to have his say. And he had plenty to say.
“The rule is new. Nobody had told us anything about it. But in the end, it’s a red card for me… it’s very easy,” he added.
Like Mourinho before the game, he also criticized the timing of the disciplinary ruling: “They had all day to announce the suspension and just as I get to the stadium, I get the message that I’m going to miss four LaLiga games. I don’t understand why.”
Vinicius explained that he was frustrated by the suspension being announced shortly before the game, particularly because he had not been informed about the new rule. He insisted that the situation had never been properly explained to the players and maintained that he had never committed a violent act against another player.
“I think… it came at a bad time. They had all day to announce the suspension and just as I get to the stadium, I get the message that I’m going to miss four LaLiga games. I don’t understand why. The truth is that the rule is new. They’ve never explained this to us. Someone from LaLiga always comes in, or from whatever the refereeing organization is called, I don’t know, to explain the new rules to us. But this, this specific thing, nobody told us about it.
“In the end, it’s a red card for me. It’s very easy… because all the other fans can say it was the right decision. But I’ve never committed a violent act against another player. I’ve always kept a cool head. I get kicked a lot and in the end, the card always goes to me.”
The Brazilian also addressed his reaction to being substituted during the match. He admitted that he naturally becomes frustrated when taken off because he always wants to play every minute and help his team, but acknowledged that the changes ultimately proved effective.
“It’s normal for me to be angry when I’m substituted because I always want to play every minute, to be at my best and help the team… and today that wasn’t possible. In the end, the substitutions helped us. They changed the game. Endrick came on and did really well. He changed the momentum and scored the goal as well. He was the best player in the second half. We hope he keeps developing so he can help us, along with other players like Carlos, who always comes on for only a few minutes. They’re helping us a lot.”
Vinicius also spoke candidly about his current form, admitting that he was unhappy with his performances but insisting that he had no doubts about his ability to return to his best.
“I wouldn’t say I’m worried, but I am angry with myself for not being at my best. I arrived here very young, at 18, and I’ve always stood up for this club and this team. In the end, Vini always comes back. I have no doubt that I’ll get back to my best and help put the club back where it belongs.”
The forward also addressed the criticism he has received from Real Madrid supporters at the Bernabéu. While acknowledging that the fans have every right to express their opinions, he stressed that the team performs better when the crowd gets behind them.
“The boos probably don’t help me, but the fans pay for their tickets and they can say whatever they want. But the best thing would be for them to support us because we play better when the fans are behind us. Me, Kylian, Jude… all of us. Because if the three of us are playing well and clicking together, we’re going to win.
“But the fans have every right to do it. And I think they find it easier to boo me because they feel I’ve been here longer and I’m one of the captains. But I’d rather they boo me than one of our young players.”
Despite his frustration, Vinicius remained confident that he would overcome his difficult spell. Reflecting on his early days at Real Madrid, when he faced criticism and doubts about his ability to score goals, he pointed to his achievements as evidence that he could turn things around again.
“I’m sure of it. When I was 18, a lot of people laughed at me and said I was never going to score goals, and now I’ve scored more than 100 in this jersey. I’ve won a lot of trophies… I don’t need to name them. I’m going through a bad spell, but I have to keep working. Things will turn around.”
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