"All [Vini] was missing today was a goal, We took him off when he was doing well. Perhaps we could have waited a bit longer, but I wanted fresh legs out wide. Franco [Mastantuono] wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me 'Are you taking me off?' And I said 'yes.' Something similar happened with Vini."
"It's normal. Franco went off a bit angry too. In the end, it happens with everyone. I'm happy with the game Vini had, and the game Franco had too, you need fresh legs sometimes, and the calendar is demanding."
Xabi Alonso defended Vinícius Júnior's reaction to being substituted during Real Madrid's 2-0 LaLiga win over Espanyol. Vinícius was taken off in the 77th minute for Rodrygo while Madrid led 2-0 and reacted by throwing a water bottle and gesturing before a touchline exchange. Alonso said Vinícius only lacked a goal and that he removed him to bring fresh wide legs, noting Franco Mastantuono reacted similarly when substituted. Alonso described such reactions as normal, praised both players' performances, cited a demanding calendar, reported stalled contract talks with Vinícius, and noted that Jude Bellingham returned as a late substitute.
Read at ESPN.com
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