There were five minutes left in regulation time and Real Madrid were suffering after letting slip a two-goal lead. It was not the time for ‘gifts’ or lack of attitude and that was precisely what lit the fuse of the clash between Vinicius and Modric.
Because sparks flew between them at the most tense moment of the match. The face-to-face between the two could be seen by the whole stadium and Ancelotti made his position clear at the end of the match: “If Modric speaks, you have to respect him”.
If anyone needs an example of what it means to pull rank, the scene could not be more significant because that is precisely what the Croatian did with the Brazilian. After a move that ended in a corner for Leganes, Modric went to Vinicius, who had been left behind in attack, to give him a monumental telling-off. The reprimand was met with a response from the Brazilian and that did not please Modric at all, who raised his tone of anger while from a distance he walked towards the number 7. Vinicius’ ‘answer’ to Modric was also not liked by Valverde, who also joined in the displeasure of the number 10. Modric was very angry and did not hold back with the Brazilian, who when he saw that Valverde also joined in the scolding, gave in to his protest and went down to defend the corner
Straight to the locker room at the end of the game
The demonstration of leadership and hierarchy was spectacular. Few in the dressing room can afford such a scolding to a player like Vinicius, who did not like the ‘public’ reprimand at all. In fact, he was not particularly effusive in Gonzalo’s winning goal and as soon as Alberola Rojas blew the final whistle, the Brazilian went straight to the dressing room with a serious gesture and did not stay for the small celebration of his teammates after the agonizing qualification.