Home » Vinicius Jr: City’s Ballon d’Or banner gave me ‘more strength’

Vinicius Jr: City’s Ballon d’Or banner gave me ‘more strength’

Vinicius Junior said the banner from Manchester City fans gave him “more strength” to help Real Madrid secure their Champions League victory.

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Vinicius says Ballon d’Or banner gave him “more strength”

Fans at the Etihad Stadium displayed a banner celebrating Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win ahead of the first-leg knockout phase playoff.

On Tuesday night, City supporters unfurled a large banner featuring Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or, alongside the Oasis song title ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out.’

The Spanish midfielder claimed the prestigious honor last October, finishing ahead of Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior.

Madrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest at Vinicius not winning the award.

However, Los Blancos had the last laugh when Vinicius assisted Jude Bellingham’s 92nd-minute winner in their 3-2 victory.

“I saw [the banner],” Vinícius told Movistar.

“But when opposition fans do things, it always gives me more strength to play a great game, and here I did that. … [City] know our history, and everything we’ve done in this competition.”

Madrid now has a slight advantage

Meanwhile, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that the banner gave Vinicius the motivation to put in the Player of the Match performance.

“I don’t know if Vini saw it,” he said in his post-match news conference. “But having seen the game, if he saw it, it was a big motivation for him.”

Nonetheless, Ancelotti said his side had a “slight advantage” in the tie after their 3-2 win, with the second leg set for next week at the Bernabéu.

“This is the way,” Ancelotti said.

“We’ve been talking about it for a long time. The season really starts now, and despite all our difficulties, we’ve got a very good result.”