Midfielder urges team to regroup as Champions League hopes hang in the balance.
Jude Bellingham has come to the defense of teammate Kylian Mbappé following Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, a match that saw the French star miss a crucial penalty. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo secured victory for the Reds, but the spotlight fell on Mbappé after his second-half spot-kick was saved by Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
Despite the high-stakes moment, Bellingham dismissed the idea of blaming Mbappé, instead emphasizing the collective shortcomings of the team.
Bellingham: “The Pressure is Humongous”
Speaking after the match, Bellingham highlighted the immense expectations placed on Mbappé.
“It’s obviously a big moment in the game, but it can happen,” Bellingham said. “He’s a wonderful player, but the pressure that he holds because of how good he is, is huge, it’s humongous.
“The penalty is not the reason why we lost the game. As a collective, we weren’t good enough on the night. They performed better than us, and it’s as simple as that. Kylian can keep his head high. I know he’ll produce many more huge moments for this club.”
Real’s Champions League Struggles
The loss leaves Real Madrid in 24th place in the standings, precariously close to the elimination zone, after three defeats in their last four Champions League outings. However, Bellingham refused to panic, instead crediting Liverpool’s performance.
“I just think they were more up for it than us, to be honest, which is disappointing to say,” Bellingham admitted. “It’s no disgrace to come here and lose, but we are disappointed in how we performed. The important thing is we use this result the right way.”
Liverpool’s Control Stifled Real
Reflecting on the game, Bellingham noted Liverpool’s dominance and Real’s inability to capitalize during key moments.
“From the first minute, they probably just took control of the game,” he explained. “We never really maximized the spells we had in possession. When we got the ball back, I think we probably tried to force the counter-attack too many times and turned it over too much.
“They kept us in a place where we couldn’t really harm them as much.”
Turning the Tide
With three games remaining in the group stage, Real Madrid’s path to qualification remains challenging. They face high-flying Atalanta next, followed by crucial matches against RB Salzburg and Brest.
Bellingham stressed the importance of turning things around: “Now we’ve got three games left in the group, and it’s important that we go and try and win all of them to give ourselves the best possible chance in the standings.”
Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign hangs in the balance, but Bellingham’s words of support for Mbappé and his team suggest they are ready to rally as they aim to restore their continental dominance.
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