Ancelotti Defends Vinicius Jr. After Red Card

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Luka Modric as a 'gift for football' after a dominant 5-0 Copa del Rey victory over Deportivo Minera, where young talents like Endrick and Arda Guler made their senior debuts. Ancelotti highlighted the importance of youth integration, emphasizing their quality and potential. Meanwhile, the club is hopeful that Vinicius Jr will avoid suspension after receiving a red card for a controversial incident against Valencia, which Ancelotti defended as unwarranted. The manager expressed confidence in Vinicius' improvement and commitment, despite the challenges he faces. Real Madrid prepares for upcoming fixtures with a focus on squad rotation, as key players Courtois and Rudiger were rested for the Copa del Rey match. Ancelotti also indicated a need to establish a clear penalty taker after recent miss at Mestalla, suggesting that issues of execution must be resolved tactically.