Gnabry: Vinicius Jr. is a 'nice guy', not a villain

Ahead of a significant UEFA Champions League match, Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry offered a strong defense of Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr., describing him as a "nice guy" and a player deserving of respect. Gnabry acknowledged the Brazilian winger's exceptional talent, placing him alongside Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrid's most dangerous offensive players, while also noting Brahim Diaz's recent form.

Reflecting on past encounters, Gnabry mentioned his personal record against Vinicius Jr. is yet to yield a victory, highlighting a draw in the 2023/24 semifinal first leg and a loss in the second. He anticipates a challenging atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu, recognizing Real Madrid's formidable home record and the stadium's legendary status. Gnabry stressed Bayern's need to focus on their own strengths and game plan to succeed. The German international also looked back at Bayern's history against Real Madrid, noting their last Champions League victory against the Spanish giants was in the 2011/12 season. He emphasized the importance of Bayern confronting the Bernabeu's aura head-on and executing their strategy effectively.