Ancelotti urges patience with Vinicius after Brazil win

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has urged patience with Vinicius Jr after the forward scored and assisted in a 4-2 friendly victory over Australia in Brisbane on Tuesday. Ancelotti said the Real Madrid player was not yet at his best but could still make a difference for the national team.

Vinicius assisted Brazil’s third goal and converted a penalty for their fourth. His contributions came amid a difficult start to the season at Real Madrid, where he has scored once in eight appearances across all competitions.

Ancelotti backs his former player

“I know Vini very well. To me, he is a key player for the national team - a key player for Brazil - and he was a key player in my own footballing journey,” Ancelotti said. The Brazil coach previously worked with Vinicius while in charge of Real Madrid.

Ancelotti acknowledged that the 26-year-old was below his best, but pointed to Tuesday’s match as evidence of what he could offer even while searching for form. Brazil’s third goal, he said, was an important example of Vinicius influencing the game.

“He is a key player for the future. Is he at his best right now? No, he isn’t, but it is the start of the season. And Vini, always, even when he isn’t at his best, he can still make the difference, just as he did today,” Ancelotti said.

“The goal that really opened up the game was thanks to him. So, I’m going to be very patient, because he deserves that patience.”

Club form and the next friendly

Vinicius’s output for Real Madrid has been limited to one goal in eight appearances this season. The Spanish club sit fourth in the La Liga standings with 15 points, while Ancelotti’s comments focused on the forward’s value to Brazil despite that slow start.

The Australia friendly gave Vinicius two direct contributions to Brazil’s 4-2 win: the assist for the third goal and the penalty that made it four. Ancelotti did not suggest that one match meant the forward had returned to his best form. Instead, he said Vinicius would reach that level in time and deserved patience along the way.

Brazil’s next match is another friendly, against India in Kolkata on Saturday. It will follow Brazil’s 4-2 friendly victory over Australia in Brisbane.