Real Madrid experienced a tense and nerve-wracking match in their victory against Leganés. Although Madrid won with a goal from Gonzalo García, the last minutes were marked by a discussion between Luka Modric and Vinícius Júnior. This confrontation made it clear that, at Real Madrid, the seniority of veteran players like Modric is still respected.
The tension in the air
Real Madrid started the match on the right foot, achieving a two-goal lead over Leganés. However, the last minutes of the game were pure suffering for the Madridists.
The team experienced a drop in performance and allowed Leganés to close the gap, which caused great concern on the bench. With only five minutes remaining in regular time, the nerves were palpable, and the team was no longer as solid as at the beginning of the match.
At that moment, when concentration and unity were most needed, the confrontation between Modric and Vinícius occurred. The Croatian, one of the team's captains, was not willing to tolerate a lack of attitude, especially when it came to the team's defense.
Vinícius, meanwhile, was in attack, leaving Madrid's defense exposed in the final moments of the match. This lack of defensive commitment was what triggered the discussion between the two players.
The origin of the confrontation: a reprimand from Modric to Vinícius
The incident began after a play that ended in a corner for Leganés. Vinícius was left hanging in attack, which provoked Modric's immediate reaction. The captain, upset by the Brazilian's lack of effort in that defensive play, approached him to reprimand him forcefully.
The Brazilian, far from accepting the reprimand without more, replied to his teammate's criticism, something that didn't sit well with Modric. The Croatian, known for his calm but firm character, raised the tone of his anger even more, which intensified the discussion. This scene was visible to everyone in the stadium and created an uncomfortable atmosphere on the field.
The rest of the players, including some of Vinícius's teammates, also noticed the discomfort, and it was then that Federico Valverde, who was nearby, joined the confrontation. Valverde supported Modric's stance, showing his disapproval of Vinícius's attitude at such a delicate moment.
Modric's clear message
At the end of the match, Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, was clear about it. After the victory, the coach emphasized that the clash between Modric and Vinícius was not just due to a personal disagreement but an essential issue: defense.
"The clash was because we need to work more on defense," stated Ancelotti, emphasizing the importance of defensive attitude for a team that aspires to be competitive.