Jude Bellingham: England star confident of thriving in 'new-look' Real Madrid team - 'The coach trusts me'
Updated 14/08/2024 at 23:18 GMT+1
Jude Bellingham had a hand in both goals as Real Madrid defeated Atalanta 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup. The England international was one of the stars of the show last season, and he believes he can play a crucial role in helping the team retain the UEFA Champions League despite being deployed in a deeper role. Owen Hargreaves feels that the Englishman was the best player against Atalanta.
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Jude Bellingham believes Carlo Ancelotti trusts him to sit deeper as part of a "new-look" Real Madrid team after his side's 2-0 triumph over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.
Madrid came alive in the second half as Federico Valverde tapped home Vinicius Junior's delightful cross.
Kylian Mbappe scored his first Madrid goal nine minutes later, blasting the ball into the top corner after some nice link-up play with Bellingham.
Bellingham was deployed much deeper than he was last term, but still had a hand in both goals, and the England international insists he just wants to help the team win.
"I think the coach trusts me to get a feel for positions," said the 21-year-old.
"I think when it is necessary I can go higher and when I need to I can help with build-up.
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"Whatever the coach wants from me, I will do.
"I don't know if I am always going to score goals, I don't know if I am always going to make goals, but hopefully I will always be involved in helping the team win.
"That is the most important thing for me."
Bellingham helped the Three Lions reach the final of Euro 2024 earlier this summer, but many of his performances garnered mixed reviews from fans and pundits.
Many feared that he could not be trusted in a deeper role, but the midfielder conjured a masterful display to silence the critics and help Madrid past the UEFA Europa League winners.
Bellingham believes everything clicked for Madrid in the second half.
"It was really fun, we have a new-look team, and it seemed to just click tonight," he added.
"Sometimes it just takes a bit of time, and in the first half, I thought we were just adjusting.
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"Then in the second half, it came together and we were brilliant.
"So yeah, really nice, it is going to be a long year for us if we do well in everything, which is what we want to do.
"You have got to enjoy nights like tonight, but come Sunday it is straight back to work."
Bellingham was 'trying to prove a point' - Hargreaves
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes Bellingham ran the show at Stadion Narodowy.
"I thought Bellingham was the best player by far," said Hargreaves.
"Playing a little bit deeper, he used his athleticism.
"I think he looked like he was trying to prove a point today.
"I thought in the first half they were a little bit rusty but in the second half I thought they were brilliant.
"Vinicius Junior, Bellingham, Mbappe, absolutely amazing players.
"The more these guys play together, the better they are going to get."
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Hargreaves was also full of praise for Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder believes that Ancelotti is giving his forwards the freedom to play the way they want to.
"That is what got these players there, their talent and their ability to express themselves in the game," he added.
"You also need to compromise and be humble, but I think he is the perfect manager, he is a players' manager.
"All the players that have played for him absolutely adore him.
"And then you add Mbappe into that mix, this group of players put together is absolutely exceptional."
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