Vinicius Junior has come on leaps and bounds and is proving himself as one of the best players in the world, according to Real Madrid team-mate Dani Carvajal.
The pair are gearing up for Madrid s mouth-watering Champions League semi-final second leg against fellow European heavyweights Bayern Munich, with the tie finely poised at 2-2.
Vinicius scored both goals for Carlo Ancelotti s side in last week s first leg, taking him to 31 goal involvements (16 goals, 15 assists) in the Champions League since the start of the 2021-22 season, more than any other player during that time.
And Carvajal says the strides made by the 23-year-old are evident.
He s improved in every aspect his finishing, physically, his maturity when playing, knowing when it s right to attack the space or to ask for the ball to be played to his feet, the full-back told reporters during the pre-match press conference.
He s one of the best players in the world, and he s proving that. We know that he puts in a lot of work away from [the training ground], having his training sessions, physio and coaching.
All of this is helping him to be one of the best in the world. Hopefully, he can help us on the pitch [in the second leg] and see us through.
— Real Madrid C.F.(@realmadriden)
The most successful side in the competition s history, Madrid are aiming to remain on course for a 15th European crown, while Ancelotti targets a record-extending sixth appearance in the final as a manager.
There s not much more to say when the time comes to play the second leg of a semi-final in your home stadium, Carvajal added. The motivation of the match itself ensures that your attention level is at its highest.
We know that we re up against a side with a history in this competition [six titles], so we have to attempt to beat them and reach the final.
