Julen Guerrero's Warning to Vinicius Jr: Rediscover Your Hunger
Julen Guerrero has delivered a blunt message to Vinicius Jr: find the hunger again or risk drifting away from the level that once terrified La Liga defenders.
The Real Madrid winger has stumbled through the start of the 2026/27 campaign, his influence dipping well below the explosive heights he hit at his peak. The step-overs are still there, the bursts of pace still appear in flashes, but the constant menace has faded.
For Guerrero, that drop is about far more than a few missed chances.
“Vinicius doesn't seem to have the same ambition and desire as before, the drive to attack, to take on defenders, to do all the things he does so well,” the Athletic Bilbao icon said, speaking to Defensa Central. “He seems more complacent and is making a lot of mistakes. He needs to rediscover the joy of wanting to be number 1, as he has wanted to be for so long.
“Right now, he's far from his best form.”
Those words will sting. This is a player who not long ago carried Real Madrid through big nights, who relished the responsibility of being the club’s cutting edge on the left flank. Now, the spark looks dulled, the swagger interrupted by hesitation and poor decisions in the final third.
Mbappé not the answer on the left
Even with Vinicius struggling, Guerrero does not see Kylian Mbappé as the solution in that role.
Vinicius has still shown glimpses of his old self, but the rhythm and reliability that once made him a relentless outlet have gone missing too often. José Mourinho is expected to keep backing him, and Guerrero believes the coach’s tactical vision is a big reason why.
“I don't see Mbappé on the left. I think Mourinho wants to get Vinicius back to his defensive role, and I don't think Mbappé is suited for that,” he explained.
“He’s focused on goals, on being up front, and resting when he doesn't have the ball. That's why Mourinho doesn't see him playing alongside Espi.
“I see him more as an attacking midfielder with freedom, with Espí pinning the centre-backs, than on the left. In his mind, he wants to stay up front. In any case, that position belongs to Bellingham.”
It leaves Vinicius at a crossroads. The left wing is still his territory, Mourinho still trusts him there, but the performances have to catch up with the faith. His finishing has faltered this season, his decision-making has been erratic, and the margin for error at Real Madrid is never generous.
Madrid’s wider problem: switching off
Guerrero did not limit his criticism to one player. He pointed to a broader issue after Madrid’s chaotic 3-2 win over Elche, a match that exposed old habits the club cannot afford to revive.
Madrid led by two and looked comfortable. Then they switched off.
“What's most concerning is their switching off,” Guerrero said. “The first half was comfortable, without playing excellent football, but with everything under control.
“They didn't press high, nor did they seem to have tremendous ambition. Elche combined quite comfortably, but Madrid has much more firepower.”
That lapse almost cost them. A routine victory turned into a frantic finish, only rescued in stoppage time by Carlos Espí. It was a warning: the league will punish any complacency, no matter the badge on the shirt.
For Vinicius, the message is just as sharp. The shirt, the status, the past seasons — none of that will be enough. Not in a team where Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Espí are all jostling to define the future.
If he wants that left flank to remain his stage, he has to bring back the edge that once made him untouchable.
