Real Madrid’s Endrick reveals why dedicated Celta goals to team-mate

On By Littum

Real Madrid’s prodigy Endrick revealed that he dedicated his two extra-time goals against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey on Thursday to his team-mate Toni Rudiger, to constantly push the youngster to do better.

Los Blancos led 2-0 until the 83rd minute of the last 16 tie, which is when Jonathan Bamba pulled one back before Marcos Alonso coolly converted a penalty in stoppage time to force another 30 minutes of play.

However, soon after the second half of extra-time began, Endrick smashed home a thunderous shot to give Madrid the lead again and netted on the other side of Fede Valverde’s volley to secure a 5-2 victory at the end of the night.

After the match, the teenage Brazilian said: “This is Madrid fighting to the end to win. We never go to the ground, we always fight.”

“It was a tough game, but we scored the goals and we won. We knew in overtime we had to run more, do more, go up (the field),” Endrick added.

The former Palmmeiras star noted how “we scored three very good goals” and dedicated his to centre-back team-mate Antonio Rudiger.

“He knows what he’s doing with me every day. He never compliments me and that’s not a bad thing. He’s very good because he likes me and tells me what to do if I’m not playing, says he told me to keep fighting.

“Yesterday was very hard in training, I was thinking about it at home… He is a great person, these two goals are for him,” explained Endrick.

In his continued battle for minutes and prominence due to Kylian Mbappe locking down the central 9 role, Endrick admitted his brace was “very important” for him during a period when he has been linked with a possible loan end in January.

“I like this game, this stadium, the fans… Now let’s train, we have more ahead of us,” he concluded.

Although he is not expected to get a starting nod, Endrick’s impressive cameo could help him come off the bench in Sunday’s La Liga meeting with Las Palmas at the Bernabeu.

As things stand, the defending champions are a single point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and yet five ahead of arch-rivals FC Barcelona, ​​who they lost the Super Cup final to last weekend.