During a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Liverpool, Jude Bellingham came to Kylian Mbappé’s defence amidst mounting criticism.
After their setback against AC Milan in the fourth matchday of the Champions League, Real Madrid are set to face Liverpool. To keep their sights on the top eight, Carlo Ancelotti’s team cannot afford any mistakes against Mohamed Salah’s Reds. With Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo Goes, and Aurélien Tchouaméni unavailable, the Madrid coaching staff will rely on players like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Brahim Díaz. On Tuesday, during the pre-match press conference, the 21-year-old English midfielder for the Madrid side spoke his mind.
Contrary to bookmakers, who are favouring Liverpool for Wednesday’s Champions League encounter, Jude Bellingham expressed confidence in Real Madrid’s ability to secure a good result. “I have great confidence in the group, I have faith. Every player can have an impact, whether they start or come off the bench,” the former Dortmund player said.
When asked about Kylian Mbappé’s situation, as he faces intense media pressure due to his underwhelming performances since joining the club, Bellingham dismissed rumours of tension over his positional changes. “It’s just another adaptation. Players leave, others come in. The way we play changes, it’s a different approach, but I’ve shown I can adapt. I’m not concerned about positions; I just want to play. Nothing affects me,” he explained.
Reassuring fans about the Frenchman’s form, Jude Bellingham admitted he is often left in awe during training. “We always form a team to win any match. Kylian is always good. He’s criticised, but it’s exaggerated. I’m convinced he’ll get even better. It’s frightening to see him play in training. I’m sure he’ll perform even better. We’ve had injuries, and that’s why we’ve had to adapt,” added Real Madrid’s No. 5.
With Vinícius absent, Mbappé needs to shine against the Reds on Wednesday, or he risks facing unprecedented media backlash.
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