Jude Bellingham will step foot on the Etihad this Wednesday for the third time in his career, the first wearing the Real Madrid shirt. The British, gray in the first leg, will be the main novelty in the eleven that the whites present compared to the one who fell with a crash last year in the Mancunian venue (4-0) and faces the duel with the desire to vindicate himself by leaving his mark on another great stage of European football.
«Looking forward to playing tomorrow. These are the games for which you come to Real Madrid. “I can't wait to play,” said the Stourbridge all-rounder in what was his first appearance before the press since that massive presentation with Real Madrid at the Valdebebas Sports City held in July last year in which he dazzled everyone with his poise, anticipation of what was to come.
Author of 20 goals and 10 assists so far this season, Bellingham has become the figurehead of Real Madrid alongside Vinicius and has already shone in the Champions League, first with Dortmund and then in his current team, with who scored four goals in the group stage. He now has to shine in a match on which everyone's eyes will be focused and Bellingham faces the challenge brimming with confidence in his team's options. «They talk about a triplet, about a wonderful team, but this is the feeling from the outside. I never bet, I don't know who the favorite is, but I do know that we are Real Madrid and we have wonderful players. “We have confidence,” he said in the Etihad press room.
«I hope the team wins. Everything else remains in the background. I want to be effective in the game, help a lot both offensively and defensively. It's going to be a very tough game, but we are a great team and we have to show our qualities,” said a footballer who asked for courage to leave behind the harsh beating that Real Madrid suffered in their previous appearance at the 'sky blue' lair.
«I spoke to some of those who played last year. It was very hard. I have also experienced difficult defeats, I understand the frustration, but you have to understand that it is a new game. “You have to be brave and play,” he proclaimed in a speech in which he appealed to the collective over individualities. »You focus on one player and then he has ten more that can create problems for you. It's about attacking and defending as a team. We have to be brave to play our game. We have to make adjustments, but also be faithful to what we do,” he reasoned.
Plea against racism
With the usual command of the stage that characterizes him, Bellingham took advantage of the media expectation to launch a plea against racism, days after his teammate Tchouaméni was once again the subject of a xenophobic episode at the Mallorca stadium. «When we go away from home, in the League, you are so used to this… I didn't know this incident had happened and more needs to be done. It's a horrible thing. These abuses should not happen and the people in power have to do more, especially with Vinicius. He takes the blame for the way he plays and expresses himself and it's not fair. It is very sad to hear stories like this. We must appeal to the people in charge,” he explained.
He referred to the drop in performance he has experienced in recent months. «I started the first half of the season very well until January. What killed my rhythm a little was the injury against Girona, more than anything. I finally overcome the pain in my ankle, play against Valencia, score and get suspended. Yes it has affected me. At the beginning of the season I always played and I was very clear about what I had to do. In recent months I have had to change things, I don't mind, but I lose a little efficiency. “I don't care about the criticism,” said a player who does not feel anxious about maintaining his scoring figures. «What makes me anxious is when I don't score and the team doesn't win. I want to add different skills and contribute to the team. I love scoring goals, but I understand that I can have more effect on the game in a different way. I didn't expect to score so many goals. I am not one to set challenges or objectives. “I said I wanted to start with a single goal and I'm going for 20. I hope I can score more goals in the season,” he said.
He showered Ancelotti with praise, the coach who best knew how to empower him. «It would be fair to say that he is the one who has given me the best performance. He fills me with confidence every day, he makes you feel comfortable. He has helped me a lot and made me believe that I can be even better than I am. Thanks to him, my beginnings at the club have been positive,” he said in a press conference in which he acknowledged the interest shown by City at the time while making clear his love for Real Madrid. «I spoke to many clubs in Dortmund, but when Real Madrid called me I didn't think twice. How big the club is, the future project, the opportunity to play with great players… That's why I didn't think twice,” he clarified.
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