I don't know if he's been at his best here: Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti on Vinicius Jr ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Vinicius Jr has scored only six goals for the Selecao.

Carlo Ancelotti, the new coach of the national team, stated that Brazil must assist forward Vinicius Jr. in regaining the form he has shown at Real Madrid.

Alongside the Brazilian forward, Ancelotti led the Spanish powerhouses to multiple championships, including two LaLiga titles and two Champions League trophies. He claimed that his special ability to rattle rival defences made him an invaluable asset.

Before Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday, which will be his debut game as head coach, Ancelotti informed the media:

“I don’t know if he’s been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid.”

“For us, he’s a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here,” the manager added.

Vinicius has been a mainstay during their 2026 tournament’s qualifying campaign, having made his FIFA World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022.

He hasn’t performed up to his typical level at Real Madrid, though, and has struggled with form with the national team. In terms of his strategy, Ancelotti said he wants to deploy a small, well-rounded squad.

Although he did not announce his starting lineup for his first national team coaching gig, he did have some positive things to say about Estevao, an 18-year-old who is moving from Palmeiras to Chelsea and is predicted to have a great future with the national team.

“I don’t want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it’s 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and use creativity with the ball,” he said. “Individual quality is not enough today; you have to combine it with attitude, drive and commitment.”

In the South American World Cup qualifying rankings, Brazil are ranked fourth, while Ecuador, their rival, are ranked second, behind the reigning winners Argentina, who have already secured their place in the tournament next year.

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