Valdano Criticizes Vini Jrs Penalty Miss While Highlighting Mbappes Pursuit of the Golden Boot

Valdano Criticizes Vinicius Jr for Penalty Miss Against Valencia

Former Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano expressed his disappointment with Vinicius Jr’s decision-making following his missed penalty kick in the match against Valencia over the weekend.

Real Madrid achieved a convincing 3-0 victory, but the Brazilian forward opted to take a penalty, even though Kylian Mbappe, the team’s regular penalty taker, was available.

Valdano’s Concerns

Valdano was visibly upset by Vinicius’s choice, stating, “The coach must step in. He has to set the hierarchy. Mbappe is the primary penalty taker, followed by Vinicius. Confidence, camaraderie, and team spirit do matter on the pitch.”

He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the most reliable scorer, adding, “At this moment, Mbappe is vying for the Golden Boot and is the one putting the goals away.”

Coach Xabi Alonso’s Perspective

In response to the situation, coach Xabi Alonso remarked, “Mbappe isn’t the only one allowed to take penalties. We designate our penalty takers, with Kylian first on that list. From there, decisions are made on the field. I appreciate when we earn penalties; it’s a chance to score. While Kylian converted the first one, I hoped to see the second one go in as well. Nonetheless, Kylian remains our designated taker.”

Alonso also admitted to feeling frustration over the missed penalty that came just before halftime, noting, “It could have been 3-0 then. Thankfully, Jude Bellingham found the net soon after. That’s where my anger lies.”

He added, “Vinicius had an excellent performance overall.”