Endrick played the full 90 minutes in Real Madrid’s 5-0 victory over Deportiva Minera in the Copa del Rey on Monday, but was unable to score.
Despite this, Carlo Ancelotti shared his thoughts on the young Brazilian’s performance after the match, which saw Real Madrid advance to the knockout stages.
Real Madrid secured the essential result, winning comfortably 5-0 at the Estadio Municipal Cartagonova, thanks in large part to a brace from Arda Güler. Although there were several changes to the lineup, particularly in defense, the team dominated. However, despite high expectations for him in attack, Endrick struggled to find the back of the net, missing several key opportunities early in the match.
Ancelotti, however, refrained from harshly criticizing the 18-year-old striker. In a match where most things went right for Real Madrid, Endrick’s performance stood out as a rare blemish. Although he worked hard, he couldn’t convert any of his chances. After a conversation with Ancelotti, who urged him to stay calm and composed, the Brazilian continued to search for his first goal, which would have been a boost during a challenging period. While some observers questioned his performance, Ancelotti offered praise, emphasizing that Endrick played well overall.
“Endrick? It’s true that scoring is important, but he had a good game. His movements were effective, his performance was strong, and when I placed him on the right, he was efficient. He just needs to be patient—he will score when the time comes,” Ancelotti explained at the press conference.
It’s worth noting that the former Palmeiras player, who had made a strong start at Real Madrid with a stunning goal against Stuttgart, has struggled to maintain momentum due to limited playing time.
On the other hand, the performance of Fran Martínez, the Minera goalkeeper, was noteworthy. Martínez, a former Real Madrid academy player, made numerous crucial saves, preventing a much larger scoreline.
Had it not been for his efforts, the result might have been more severe, and Endrick may have had more chances to score. The Brazilian, who has turned down loan offers for more playing time, is determined to regain his best form.
