Carlo Ancelotti highlighted the importance of Vinicius Junior producing his form of Real Madrid for Brazil before the first Italian match in charge of the Selecao.
Ancelotti was appointed to replace Dorival Junior last month after his departure as Madrid Boss and has an opening match of the tests while Brazil visits the equator in qualification of the World Cup on Thursday.
He takes over the five-time world champions with Brazil at a low level following a 4-1 game in the hands of Argentina, which ended the Dorival mandate.
Brazil has 10 points behind Argentina, which has already reserved its place in the 2026 finals, in the qualifications of the World Cup in Conmebol.
Six points ahead of Venezuela, which occupies the interconderation dam point, with four games to play, Brazil is still very likely to qualify.
But, while Encelotti seeks to return Brazil to the top of world football, he identified the difficulties of Vinicius at the international level as something that must be addressed.
Vinicius has only six goals in 39 caps for his country. His goal in victory against Colombia in March scored his first since a double against Paraguay in COPA America 2024. He collected five assists in his career in Brazil.
This contrasts strongly with its form for Madrid. Even in a disappointing trophy season for Los Blancos, Vinicius still achieved 20 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. Having always obtained the best of Vinicius for Madrid, Ancelotti sees the same for Brazil as a priority.
“I don’t know if he was his best here, but he has time to do what he does in Real Madrid,” Ancelotti said at a press conference.
“For us, this is a fundamental actor. We have to work to make sure that he is doing his best here.”
Ancelotti has no illusion because what Brazil needs as a collective to improve their performance.
“Yes, I watched him,” said Ancelotti when he was asked if he had looked at Brazil’s defeat against the world champions in Argentina in the monumental.
“No balance. Simple too. Talent, but no balance.
“Football is not so complicated, in my opinion. The best players must play, but you must be able to find a good balance between them. The keyword in football is “talent”, of course. Without talent, you can’t win. But the balance is also very important, because the team must be balanced between defense and attack.
“Brazilian players, in general, have more talent than others. And then you have to find a link between talented players and others. Each team does not have 11 talented players – the others support talent, with sacrifice, commitment, attitude.
“I don’t want my teams to have a clear identity. Take the game, sit down, press, defend yourself-there are a lot of things you need to do to succeed.
“After 40 years, I still don’t know the best strategy to win matches, but I know it depends on the characteristics of the players you have, and I want to do it with Brazil players, bring them together with a single goal: win the World Cup.”
Ancelotti, whose contract expires after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will probably pay with his work if he cannot deliver a sixth world title.
But he does not feel overwhelmed by the wait with which he must now face.
“There is no more pressure than Real Madrid. The pressure is the same,” added Ancelotti.
“But I don’t have to think about pressure, I must think that I have a fantastic opportunity. I want to live this period to the best of my possibilities.”
