In the wake of Manchester City’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League knockout round on Tuesday, Vinicius Junior became the focus of a banner displayed by City fans.
Despite his impressive performance, where he provided two assists and was named Man of the Match, the fans later clarified that the banner wasn’t aimed at Vinicius but at Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez.
“Stop crying your heart out” – the message displayed by Manchester City supporters’ group 1894 at the Etihad Stadium was widely misinterpreted. Given Vinicius Junior’s prominent presence during the match, many assumed the banner was targeting the Brazilian winger. However, as the banner gained attention, the fan group issued a statement to set the record straight.
City fans clarify the message
On Wednesday, the supporters took to their X account to clarify the intent behind the banner. They explained that it was not aimed at Vinicius Junior, but rather at Florentino Pérez. “Has no one in the media realized that the person targeted by the banner wasn’t even on the pitch? Florentino Pérez,” wrote 1894. “He was the one who launched a smear campaign against Rodri and orchestrated his club’s players boycotting the ceremony. It had to be said, regardless of the match result.”
The clarification comes amid growing recognition of Vinicius’ brilliant performance at the Etihad. In light of the banner’s controversy, several journalists and pundits criticized the gesture, deeming it inappropriate and unnecessary. Some Manchester City fans even felt the banner, which was not explained before the match, only fueled Vinicius to deliver an even more outstanding performance.
A blessing in disguise for Vinicius
Despite the backlash, the incident appeared to only motivate Vinicius Junior further. The 24-year-old Brazilian acknowledged the jeers from the crowd and the banner, revealing that they only gave him more strength to excel on the pitch.
“I saw the tifo, and whenever the opposition fans do something like this, it gives me even more strength to play a great match, and that’s exactly what I did here,” Vinicius said after the game. “They know our history, everything we achieve in this competition. This is the fifth time we’ve played here, it’s always freezing cold, and we must continue down this path.”
Looking ahead, the second leg of this Champions League showdown next week will determine which club advances to the quarter-finals. With standout performances from Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni, Real Madrid appears to be on the right track. However, Manchester City will be eager to make a comeback after their defeat on Tuesday.
