Vinicius Jr put up a robust defence of Carlo Ancelotti after the Selecao were held to a goalless draw by Ecuador on the Italian's debut.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Ancelotti failed to inspire BrazilSelecao held to a 0-0 drawVinicius put his weight behind the managerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Ancelotti’s first match in charge of Brazil ended in a stalemate, with the five-time world champions unable to find a breakthrough against a resilient Ecuadorian side. While the result left fans underwhelmed, Brazil forward Vinicius Jr came out in strong support of the new boss, urging patience and unity as the team begins a new chapter.
AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite dominating possession, Brazil failed to carve out many clear scoring opportunities in the first half. The best chance came when Vinicius Jr, linking up with Gerson, forced Ecuador goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle into a smart save. Though Brazil showed more urgency after the break, the final product remained missing. Richarlison squandered a promising opportunity from close range following a precise ball from Vini, while Casemiro tested Valle from distance but was denied.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ancelotti wasted no time in stamping his mark on the squad by making sweeping changes to the starting lineup. This included restoring experienced names like Casemiro and Richarlison, handing the iconic No. 10 shirt to Vinicius Jr, and debuting defender Alex. These decisions marked a clear shift from the approach of Dorival Junior, Ancelotti’s predecessor, who was sacked following Brazil’s 4-0 loss to Argentina. However, the changes yielded little in terms of goals on the night.
WHAT VINICIUS SAID
After the match, Vinicius Jr addressed the media and offered his backing to Ancelotti.
"We will manage. He is yet to show his game plan," the Real Madrid forward said. "The World Cup is right there, and we need to be together to do well at the end of South American qualifying and World Cup preparations."