'He deserves that patience': Brazil boss Ancelotti defends Vinicius over form

[p]Forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius[/a] has scored ‌just one goal in eight appearances across ‌all competitions this season for Spanish club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a], who sit fourth in the LaLiga ‌standings with 15 points.[/p][p]However, the 26-year-old ⁠showed flashes ‌of his quality in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/brazil-I9l9aqLq/?mid=GvxFXcFU"]4-2 friendly victory[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]​Australia[/a] in Brisbane on Tuesday, contributing to the third goal and ​converting a penalty for the fourth.[/p][p][b]"I know Vini very well. To me, he is ⁠a key player ​for the national team - a key player for Brazil - and he was a key player in my own footballing journey,"[/b] said ‌Ancelotti, who also coached Vinicius when he was in charge of Real Madrid.[/p][image alt="Vinicius' recent form" id="7c17adf2-41a3-4428-bcdb-e7a0765f524e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="da227715-3c33-46f9-a4c4-55ebcb8e424c" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]"He is a key player for the future. Is he at his best right now? No, he isn't, but it is the start of the season. And Vini, always, even when he isn't at his best, ‌he can still make the difference, ​just as he did today.[/b][/p][p][b]"The goal that ‌really opened up the game was thanks to him. So, I'm going to be very patient, because he deserves that patience."[/b][/p][p]Brazil next travel to Kolkata for ⁠a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/india-A1UUGpep/?mid=rTGQFX7E"]friendly with ⁠India on Saturday[/a].[/p]