Real Madrid: Don’t overlook Carlo Ancelotti’s impact on Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid will need new manager Carlo Ancelotti to get even more out of the attackers in the 2021-2022 season, because it’s looking like a “Kylian Mbappe or bust” situation when it comes to transfer upgrades. And even though he only has one year left on his contract, we know how difficult “Operation Mbappe” will still be for Los Blancos.

Plenty of discussion will focus on the big-name players, Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, but I think an equal amount of time should be spent on the youngsters in Real’s attack. Martin Odegaard, for example, could be of supreme importance to Ancelotti, who has always been friendly to the No. 10.

That said, Vinicius Junior‘s name should not get lost in discussions regarding Ancelotti’s impact on the Real attack. If Mbappe is not signed, Vinicius becomes the most likely man to receive the lion’s share of minutes on the left wing, as was the case last season when Hazard missed most of the campaign with more injuries.

Vini’s issues in front of goal are well-documented. He scored just three goals in LaLiga last season and underperformed his xG by more than any other player on Real Madrid in the league. He actually missed more expected goals (3.5) than the number of goals he scored, which is an infuriating statistic. There’s not much a manager can do when a starter is underperforming that much in front of goal.

Carlo Ancelotti must help Vinicius Junior improve his efficiency in front of goal for Real Madrid

But Madridistas already know about Vini’s issues with staying composed in the penalty box. They also know that the talented 20-year-old is adept at creating his own chance with the ball at his feet. Just ask Atalanta. Vini is one of those players who can put an entire defense on strings when he’s in the mood.

Ancelotti will have two key tasks on his hand with Vini. Firstly, he’ll need to help improve Vini’s finishing and composure in the final third. Zinedine Zidane did his best, working with Vini in extra training sessions, though he was unable to find a breakthrough. And secondly, Ancelotti must help Vini develop consistency so that even when he is not scoring, he is impacting matches more frequently on the ball with disruptive dribbling instead of sometimes going invisible a la right winger Marco Asensio.

Getting the most out of the young players is important to Real Madrid going forward, especially because they can’t rely on either Bale or Hazard and are not guaranteed any marquee signings. Mbappe is a wish right now and cannot be seen as a sure-fire upgrade, because we just don’t know if Los Blancos can work out a deal financially or if PSG won’t throw down a hardline stance.

Vini’s spot in the squad is pretty close to a guarantee, though. And Ancelotti is another player-friendly manager with arguably more of an inclination to free-flowing attacking football. Therefore, he is the profile of coach who can help Vini play his best ball in year four. As we discuss the futures of the superstars, the potential transfers, and the loanees, we cannot forget that Vinicius is still an important, high-upside player whose future could be bright under the guidance of the Don himself.