Vinícius Jr. has revealed that a banner displayed by Manchester City supporters served as added motivation during Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over the English side in the UEFA Champions League playoff first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
The Brazilian forward, who played a crucial role in the match, admitted that rival fans’ actions often fuel his performance.
“I saw the banner. Whenever the opposing fans do things like that, they give me more strength to have a great game, and here I have done it,” Vinícius said.
The banner in question featured City midfielder Rodri holding the Ballon d’Or trophy, accompanied by the caption “Stop crying your heart out,” referencing Rodri’s victory over Vinícius in the Ballon d’Or race. The message appeared to be aimed at the Real Madrid star, but it only served to inspire him further.
The match saw Manchester City take the lead twice, with Erling Haaland scoring, including an 80th-minute penalty that seemed to put them on course for victory. However, Real Madrid’s resilience shone through, with Kylian Mbappé scoring a fluke goal, followed by late contributions from substitutes Brahim Díaz and Jude Bellingham, who secured the decisive goal.
Reflecting on Real Madrid’s determination, Vinícius added, “They know our history, everything we do in this competition.”
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