Tim Sherwood told Premier League Productions on Optus Sport that Carlos Vinicius has ‘every right’ to be ‘angry’ at his lack of game time for Tottenham.
On Sunday, Jose Mourinho changed it up quite dramatically and started the back-up Tottenham striker alongside the main man, Harry Kane.
The 25-year-old rewarded his manager by opening the scoring during Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Villa Park.
There was a sense of anger and frustration to Vinicius’s celebration when he scored that opener.
And ex-Tottenham boss Sherwood shared why Vinicius was correct to celebrate in that manner and how he would have felt that his season was ‘finished’ when the North London club were knocked out of the Europa League.
“I think he’s got every right to be angry,” said Sherwood. “I think he hasn’t had a run of games.
“He has played in the Europa League and he probably thought ‘we got knocked out in midweek and that’s me finished now and I am not going to play anymore’.
“Surprise, surprise. You are playing in the Premier League. Can you do it? I think the kid needs an opportunity to play to show what he can do. I don’t think he has had a fair crack.
“And now if he can add to this goal. Look at that frustration (his celebration). That is telling you ‘I have not had an opportunity’. This is what I can do if you give me the chance. Give me the chance to play.”
Vinicius isn’t the first striker to play second-fiddle to Kane and he certainly won’t be the last.
But now that Mourinho has started him, it will be interesting to see if he keeps his place in the starting XI when domestic football resumes.
In truth, Vinicius deserves more shots and more players do need to take the burden off Kane’s shoulders.
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