Called up to the English national team for the last FIFA international break, Jude Bellingham delivered two outstanding performances. Struggling at Real Madrid this season, the English midfielder proves that Carlo Ancelotti is failing to put him in the best conditions to shine.
Arriving in the Spanish capital last season, Jude Bellingham made an immediate impact in his first season with Real Madrid. Considered the worthy successor to Zinédine Zidane, the English midfielder carried the Madrid team by scoring around twenty goals and providing numerous assists. A key player in the team’s phenomenal season last year, the young English player is once again under scrutiny, with expectations that he would shine even brighter this season under Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti and the critical use of Bellingham
Despite a significant effort in every appearance in the merengue colours this season, the former Borussia Dortmund player is no longer scoring goals. Repositioned at the heart of the Madrid team’s play, Jude Bellingham suffers from the arrival of Kylian Mbappé. Forced to do the dirty work (running and defending in place of the two forwards), the 21-year-old player is no longer present as he should be in the opponent’s penalty area.
Although things have improved in recent days as he benefits from Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments to play the role of number 9, which normally belongs to Kylian Mbappé, Bellingham is not really used as the playmaker he could be. Finally scoring this season (against Osasuna in the last La Liga match), the English international defended the national colours during this last FIFA international break of 2024.
Outstanding performances with England
Aligned at the heart of the Three Lions’ play by coach Lee Carsley, Jude Bellingham dazzled. Against Greece last Thursday in the Nations League, the Madrid midfielder shone with a new goal after a wild run. Even though the goal was eventually credited to the Greek goalkeeper, the credit goes to the player, who put a lot of pressure on the Greek defence. Praised by the English press after this match, which ended in a 3-0 victory for England, Bellingham confirmed that he is more comfortable in the national team this Sunday.
Indeed, in the last group stage match of the Nations League against Ireland, the Stourbridge native was named man of the match. After a goalless first half, it was Jude who started the hostilities in the 53rd minute with a penalty won and taken by Harry Kane. As the Three Lions then cruised, the Madrid star provided two more assists for a 5-0 victory. With this new outstanding performance, Jude Bellingham is now decisive 105 times (goals and assists) at just 21 years old.
The enormous pressure on Ancelotti’s shoulders
Expected in Madrid this Monday, Jude Bellingham returns to Carlo Ancelotti’s team with his head held high. After successful performances with the national team, it is important today that the Madrid coach finds a better way to use the English midfielder, who has more than one trick up his sleeve. Instead of continuing with a system that does not allow the team to perform as it should with players not really succeeding, Ancelotti should now highlight players like Bellingham or Arda Güler, who also shone with Turkey.
Given the big matches coming up, especially the clash against Liverpool in the Champions League in ten days, all Madrid fans will want to see a playing team in which Jude Bellingham, Vinícius, and Kylian Mbappé will shine. It is up to Carlo Ancelotti to find a way to make the team work.
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