In a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, Jude Bellingham spoke his mind. For the English midfielder, it is out of the question to ask too much of the supporters.
He will be a key player this Wednesday against the Gunners. Ahead of the big day, Jude Bellingham spoke to both Madrid-based and international media on Tuesday. In comments relayed by Marca, the 21-year-old midfielder made it clear that it’s up to the players to give everything, not the fans, who are already doing more than enough.
Bellingham’s press conference
Big European nights at the Bernabéu
“They are essential. They create an incredible atmosphere… and the energy is contagious. You can feel the presence of the supporters – they bring out the best in us. We can’t ask any more of them than what they’ve already done. Now, it’s our turn to play.”
The most repeated word in the dressing room
“Comeback. I’ve heard it a million times. I’ve watched loads of videos… it really motivates us. It’s the perfect kind of night for Real Madrid. People know what this is about, there’s no need to add more.”
Magical comebacks
“I’ve seen videos on TikTok, that’s where I live these days. We want to be part of that and contribute to the club’s history. Tomorrow is a big day for us.”
Talks with teammates
“I think the first thing you said… that’s football. It’s completely normal on the pitch, because we’re on edge. We have to be honest with each other. All the media talk about it, even if you go a bit overboard. We’re ready and can’t wait to get going.”
What does it mean to be part of this?
“It’s an incredible environment. The first leg was one of the worst results we could have imagined, and now everyone is thinking about the return. That means we’re in the best club in the world. Of course, there’s pressure that comes with that – we know we have to get the best possible result.”
14 kilometres less than the opponent in the first leg
“It’s true that running more means more chances. Yes, it influences the game. But the same thing happened last year, we weren’t the team that ran the most, and we won the Champions League. You have to understand what it means to run from one side to the other. You have to know how to run. Tomorrow, we’ll want to run a lot more, and I hope we’ll have a better strategy to make that happen.”
When did the team start to believe?
“Honestly… after the match, it was tough, because it was difficult. We analysed our weaknesses, but through talking and remembering our past experiences, it became contagious. With the people you share a dressing room with, it was almost immediate. On the bus, we were already starting to believe…”
How is it possible, and did Arsenal surprise you?
“There have been magical Champions League nights at the Bernabéu. We believe we have a chance and can do much better. We have to be more focused, and we can do it. We’re confident in our chances. They didn’t really surprise us, maybe the fouls did. I’d never seen Rice commit two fouls (laughs). They’re very well organised and play really well.”
Do you have enough resources to turn the tie around?
“I think we’ve had tough matches, but we’ve still managed to win. Like I’ve said before, every match has its challenges… but it’s true that when things go badly, it becomes more important. We are capable of doing things very well, we just have to believe in the team and in our abilities. It’s not about the club’s history, it’s about hard work every day.”
Last two-goal win… two months ago
“It’s different. We played some games where we weren’t at our best, but we’ve found our form again. Maybe those nights were necessary. Tomorrow, we’ll need to score more goals. We’re not worried about having scored fewer goals in recent months.”
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