Carlo Ancelotti has jumped to the defence of striker Vinicius Junior ahead of Real Madrid’s return to UEFA Champions League action against Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The Brazilian was criticised in some quarters for his celebration after scoring the opening goal in his side’s 2-0 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday.
But Ancelotti believes his gesture, in which he raised a finger to his lips, was an understandable reaction to the “ugly’ barracking he continues to receive from rival fans.
“It’s a reaction to a very ugly situation and it’s happened a lot of times, there are always insults towards him,” Ancelotti told a press conference.
“Nobody could put up with it, and nor can I. It’s only natural that he put his finger up to his mouth because of everything that’s happening.
“It’s impossible to put up with what has happened to Vini Jr. over the years. We should focus less on the character of this young man and look a bit more at what is happening inside the stadiums.
“I think they do this to him because he’s a threat in terms of the sport and they’re trying to unsettle him in the game.”
Ancelotti confirmed that Jude Bellingham will be fit to return after missing the Sociedad game with a slight knock, and Aurelien Tchouameni and Eder Militao are also available.
The defending champions, who brushed aside Borussia Dortmund in last year’s final, are once again favourites to lift the competition after a bright start to their domestic campaign in which they remain unbeaten.
“Some people think we’re favourites because we won last year, but this year’s Champions League will be a different story and hopefully we can get to the final like we did last season,” added Ancelotti.
“It’s a very special competition for me, not just for the club. We always look forward to this competition in which the club has been a leading force for a long time.”
