Real Madrid striker Endrick teammate congratulated Antonio Rudiger for guiding him through his goal drought, devoting his brace in their 5-2 Copa del Rey win over Celta Vigo on Thursday to the defender.
Madrid survived a scare in the last 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu, as Celta came back from 2-0 down in the 91st minute, before the home side scored three goals – two from the Brazil international – in overtime.
Endrick, 18, started the season brightly, opening his account in La Liga and the Champions League, but had not found the net since September 17 and has only played a total of 83 league minutes this campaign.
“I continue to work every day,” Endrick told Real Madrid TV. “My two goals are for Antonio Rüdiger. He knows what he does for me every day. He never congratulates me, and that’s a good thing! He tells me what to do, score, run, keep fighting Yesterday in training he gave me a difficult match. I was thinking about it at home and he’s a great person. The goals are for him.
Endrick’s first goal was scored on the turn from the edge of the box – which the teenager celebrated by ripping off his shirt – while the second was a quick backheel from inside the six-yard box.
“(The first) was a very important goal for me,” Endrick said when asked about the exuberant celebration. “It’s my job. I have to do well for the team, score goals, do anything. To score a goal for Madrid, for these fans, the players, the staff, it’s really good. During the last Copa match, I missed chances I had today, I had two chances and I scored.
The cup victory allowed Madrid to bounce back from their 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Captain Lucas Vazquez said the performance, which came after coach Carlo Ancelotti rested key players such as Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde, showed Madrid’s strength in depth.
“Endrick did well with the minutes he had,” Vazquez said. “It shows the quality of this team. We made changes, and the team did well, whoever is playing is up to the task.”
Ancelotti was asked about whistles from parts of the Bernabéu crowd for some of his players, including the midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni.
“It’s a wake-up call from the fans, the players and the coach,” Ancelotti said. “It’s acceptable, with what happened in the match against Barcelona. The team reacted well, especially Tchouameni, who had a great match.”
