Rodrygo Amazed by Endrick: "He's Crazy"
Endrick amazed fans with his goal on debut, and not just the supporters. His own teammates were also impressed. Here’s what Rodrygo and Rüdiger had to say.
Endrick stole the spotlight on Real Madrid's Champions League debut, scoring a goal despite having Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius open for a shot, leading to playful teasing from his teammates and a comment from Rodrygo that "he's crazy."
"Endrick is crazy. He did something that no one else would do, but I'm very happy for him and I understand the joy he's experiencing. It's a play we practice with Rüdiger in training, and it worked out well," Rodrygo told the club's media.
Antonio Rüdiger also joined in the fun, revealing the nickname "Bobby" for the Brazilian, inspired by his admiration for Bobby Charlton. "He has a big personality, and the shot went well; otherwise, he would have had big problems," Rüdiger joked.
Rodrygo emphasized the importance of starting the new Champions League campaign with a win. "It's important to win with this shirt, especially in the Champions League. It was crucial to start with a victory because it gives us confidence. It went well, we won, and now we need to keep improving," he said.
Connection with Mbappé
Regarding his play with Mbappé, Rodrygo commented, "We weren't having a bad game in the first half. The pressure wasn’t right, but the coach gave us good instructions. The coach always asks me to attack. Tchouaméni passed me the ball, I attacked the space, went solo, but then found two defenders. I saw Kylian alone and passed it to him."
Rodrygo also praised the connection with Mbappé, who scored in his Champions League debut for Real Madrid. "We're getting better every day in training and off the field, and we're becoming closer friends. I hope this friendship continues so we can do great things on the pitch. We're improving, still need a bit more, and we'll be better in each match."
In fact, Mbappé had a memorable reaction on the field to Endrick's goal and then said this: "He scores his goal and goes off with the fans. He’s an eighteen-year-old, gets a minute and scores his goal. He’s doing very well."