Real’s Junior shows seniors how it’s done
REAL Madrid’s revival under Santiago Solari will be put to the Champions League test tonight at Ajax Amsterdam as they play their first European knock-out game under the Argentinian coach.
Real’s convincing 3-1 win at the weekend in the city derby at Atletico, and the subsequent failure of Barcelona to beat Athletic Bilbao, left Solari’s side just six points behind the leaders with a Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu still to come.
It is, however, the Champions League where Real have really shone by winning the trophy in the last three seasons and where Solari will be expected to deliver against Ajax.
There is a confident mood in the camp and the omens also favour a victory for the Spanish side – in the six previous meetings Real have come out on top four times.
The recent metamorphosis of the Meringues owes a lot to the new coach’s faith in young players. The outstanding performances of one of those new recruits has been key.
The 18-year-old Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior played just 12 minutes under Julen Lopetegui. Under Solari, who coached him when he managed the B-team, he has played just over 1200 and is expected to start in the Johan Cruyff Arena tonight.
He has started the last 11 games and provided seven assists and won two penalties in that time.
Speaking about the advantage of Solari already knowing some of the younger players from his time as B-team coach, former Ajax and Real midfielder Clarence Seedorf told Spain’s Diario AS: “Solari has had the good fortune to know a lot of the players before. He already has their respect. I think he is managing the group well – both the younger players and the veterans.”
Keeping the established players happy while he fast tracks players such as Vinicius and 22-year-old Sergio Reguilon, will be increasingly difficult as the big games start to arrive. Playing Vinicius means leaving out Gareth Bale and putting Reguilon in the team can only be done if Marcelo is left out.
“Bale is getting better with every game,” said Solari at the weekend after watching the Wales winger climb off the bench and score the all important third goal in the 3-1 win.
Bale missed last month with an ankle injury but is close to full fitness. With four in-form forwards vying for three starting berths, Solari has a selection headache, although it is one that most coaches would love to have.