Xabi started Vini Jr on the bench for victory over Real Oviedo last week.
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Rivaldo told Betfair: "I don't see it as a punishment. He was a substitute to get the best out of Vinicius. It's a strategy to help Vinicius grow even more. And it's paying off. He's started scoring goals.
"Xabi is a great coach, but he was also a great player. He knows exactly what a footballer like Vinicius is thinking. He knows that sometimes you have to make adjustments with the greats.
"But Xabi, like any coach, always wants the best from his players . He knows that Vinicius is important and understands well how to get the best performance from him."