Bellingham reveals secret to Real Madrid’s ‘massive reward’ of UCL semi-final
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During the Champions League quarter-final match against Manchester City, Jude Bellingham expressed his admiration towards his Real Madrid peers for their unselfish teamwork and their commendable level of effort.
Real Madrid advanced to the next round of the competition by winning a penalty shootout, following a challenging match that ended in a 1-1 tie at the Etihad Stadium and a tied aggregate score of 4-4.
In the second leg, Man City dominated possession, controlled the territory and had more opportunities to score. However, they had to recover from an early goal by Rodrygo to force the match into extra time and penalties. Despite having to do a lot of running without the ball, LaLiga's team remained committed to the task and eventually won the tie by converting their penalties when neither team could score after 210 minutes of play.
Bellingham, who successfully converted his own penalty kick during the shootout, identified Real's determination and focus as the primary reasons for their ability to remain competitive throughout the match.
"I feel relieved. Playing against City is tough, and sometimes you think you're going to win, but they take the victory away from you," he stated during an interview with TNT Sports. "After putting so much effort into the game, I'm exhausted. That's why winning is such a huge reward. It's incredibly challenging to maintain focus because City is constantly changing your position on the field. Most teams crumble under City's pressure, but we were able to stand up and work hard."
Looking at the Real shirt should be viewed as a duty, not a burden. It is necessary to be ready to face intense scrutiny and attention. If you are present in this situation, it indicates that you are capable of handling it, so believe in the method.
"It's amazing to defeat the current champions. Nowadays, it all comes down to mindset, athleticism, and monitoring player movements. Once you have those factors dialed in, moments like our team's composure during penalty kicks are made possible. It's a combination of all these things."
The England player is having an amazing first season in Spain and there is a chance for them to make it even better by moving forward in the Champions League. Real Madrid is also getting closer to winning the national title.
He described that joining the club has exceeded his expectations greatly and emphasized the huge contribution of manager Carlo Ancelotti towards it.
Bellingham spoke highly of his supervisor's ability to accommodate a plethora of outstanding performers on the team and unveiled his unique technique for soothing the nerves of the players.
I couldn't have imagined it, not only achieving my aims but also getting to experience the sensation of representing the team on a daily basis - the emblem on your torso every day is wonderful, and I hope there will be further occasions like this one.
Tonight, our team had diverse positions, and it required us to modify our gameplay and make certain concessions to execute effectively.
The thing we're best at is allowing the players to have the freedom to play their own game, which we owe to Ancelotti. Many other teams follow strict plans for their playing style, but we tend to be more spontaneous and less controlled.
Before the game, I noticed that he was yawning and he jokingly exclaimed, "You need to go and get me all fired up!" That's just the level of composure he always brings to the team.
Real Madrid is set to go against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. However, Bellingham stated that facing the Bavarians does not require altering their approach. He reassured that they are not worried about Bayern but still hold them in high regard. Therefore, the team will adopt the same strategy used in their last game.
