Real Madrid: Four takeaways from a well-deserved loss to Chelsea

Vinicius Junior was set up to fail

So now that we’ve criticized one left winger for basically doing nothing against his old team, let’s discuss the second-string left winger, who did not even play at a position anywhere near his favored position.

Vinicius Junior started as a right wing back. Now, he might actually have some potential in this position with games, because he works hard, tries in defense, and is a great ball-carrier. Experimenting with him on the right side with a three-man defense behind him is a worthwhile venture against a La Liga side that defends deep and poses little attacking threat.

It is, however, a major risk, borderline disastrous to do this in a Champions League semifinal against a team with players like Timo Werner and Mason Mount in the attack. And as you’d expect, Vini looked completely lost.

There were so many times where he was not in the picture defensively on counters. And when Real were sitting back when Chelsea had the ball, he would take such bad angles defensively, chasing Chelsea players to the point where he was literally behind them. Mount had a shot on target because of this kind of defending from Vini.

You can’t blame the young man, though. This was on Zidane for overthinking things and making such a risky experimental choice in a massive game.