Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has explained his decision to drop Vinicius Junior for their LaLiga win over Real Oviedo on Sunday.
Los Blancos won 3-0 with Vinicius and Trent Alexander-Arnold starting from the bench.
Alonso has now claimed it was purely a tactical decision.
Despite starting as a substitute, Vinicius came on to score the final goal in the 90th minute, adding to a brace from Kylian Mbappe.
The victory maintains Real Madrid’s perfect start to the La Liga campaign, with two wins from their opening two matches.
Alonso’s men sit in third place in the table behind Villarreal and Barcelona on goal difference.
Speaking on the decision to bench Vinicius, Alonso said: “Everyone is different, and you have to demand respect, and the relationship is a little different.
“In football, decisions are made with the team in mind; you have to understand things, and that was the case today.”
