Vinicius back for Real Madrid Champions League clash

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said star forward Vinicius Junior will return from injury sooner than expected to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Brazilian winger suffered a hamstring injury in November which was expected to keep him out until the Intercontinental Cup final on 18 December.

However Vinicius was able to train on Friday and Ancelotti said he would return the following week, and missed Saturday's La Liga trip to face Verona.

“Vinny has recovered very well from his injury, he will not be ready for tomorrow but he will be ready for the next Champions League game,” Ancelotti said in a press conference on Friday.

Vinicius' return boosts a Madrid side that has suffered three defeats in its opening five European matches and is 24th in the Champions League group table.

The coach said defender David Alaba, who also trained with the team, is regaining fitness after a long-term knee injury and could return in January.

With Vinicius sidelined, the focus has been even more on superstar striker Kylian Mbappe after his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

The French forward missed penalties in defeats to Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao in the last fortnight and is struggling to find his best form, with 10 goals in his first 20 games in all competitions.

Mbappé posted on social media network Instagram that he would “change this situation” and show his true colors.

“He is conscious (of it), the post he put up after the game is that of a player who knows what he is doing and also knows what he can do and will do,” Ancelotti said. ”

“Obviously we are with him, he is not at his best level, but there are a lot of players who are not at their best level and don't know it – he knows it.”

Ancelotti said he was encouraged by Mbappe's performances in recent La Liga matches against Getafe and Athletic.

“He has improved a lot in terms of intensity in the last few games,” the coach said, referring to Mbappé's sprinting statistics.

However Ancelotti admitted that resting the 25-year-old could help him at some point.

“We have to support him, but supporting him doesn't mean he has to play all the games. “Sometimes it may happen that a day of rest is good for him.”

The coach felt that he was being attacked too much regarding Madrid's recent form, although he acknowledged that he had to accept some criticism.

“Like stress, criticism is also fuel to try and do better,” Ancelotti said.

AFP