Vinicius Junior applauds Real Madrid fight after dramatic late win against Celta Vigo

Vinícius Júnior described Real Madrid’s dramatic victory away to Celta Vigo as a fitting present for the club’s supporters after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Balaídos Stadium on Friday night.

The Brazilian forward of Cameroonian descent played the full 90 minutes in a contest that demanded resilience from a depleted Madrid side. With injuries and suspensions forcing several changes, the Spanish giants relied on determination and patience before Federico Valverde struck a decisive goal in stoppage time to secure all three points.

Vinícius acknowledged the challenge posed by the circumstances but emphasised the importance of the result, particularly with crucial fixtures approaching.

“It was a very tough match where we were missing many players, but we came here to win. We worked hard, we suffered a lot, and in the end, we managed to win, which was the most important thing to build confidence ahead of Wednesday’s match,” he said.

The Brazilian also highlighted the contribution of several academy players who stepped into the squad amid the injury crisis.

“We also have to thank the youth academy players who came in to help and all the players who stepped up because we knew it was going to be a very tough game with many injuries and suspensions. We had to bring out our best version, and what better way to do it than on our club’s anniversary, giving this gift to our fans.”

Madrid’s persistence was ultimately rewarded deep into added time when Valverde found the net to break Celta’s resistance.

“I prefer winning the matches earlier when things are simpler, but it’s always good to win, especially with a goal at the end. It was Fede’s goal, who is always there for us, helps us every day, and does everything for our team.”

Vinícius admitted fatigue after a demanding run of matches but remained focused on recovery ahead of the team’s next challenge.

“I feel very good. Today I was a bit tired because I’ve played many matches in recent days, but you always have to be ready for the big games. Now it’s time to go back home, rest a bit, and prepare for Wednesday’s match. Hopefully, we can recover well to deliver a great performance and have the fans with us.”