Bellingham Defends Team Unity Amidst Real Madrid Challenges

Jude Bellingham has responded to recent reports alleging discontent within the Real Madrid dressing room, characterizing them as “fabricated or exaggerated.” He emphasized that the players are “100% behind” coach Xabi Alonso and praised teammate Vinícius Júnior as “as positive as ever.”

Prior to Christmas, Real Madrid faced a challenging period, securing only two victories out of eight matches across all competitions, placing significant pressure on Alonso. The scrutiny on the coach intensified following Vinícius’s visible frustration during a substitution in the October Clásico.

As the team prepares for their Spanish Supercopa semifinal against local rivals Atlético Madrid in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bellingham addressed the media at King Abdullah Sports City. “A lot of the problems you might hear about in tough moments are fabricated or exaggerated,” he stated. “We know what really happens inside the dressing room. We’re behind the coach.”

Bellingham further commented on Vinícius, saying, “I see him every day; he’s just as positive as ever. He’s no bad influence on the team and what we’re trying to do. I have a great relationship with Vini, and if I felt he was negatively impacting the team, I’d speak up, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. As for the manager, we’re all 100% behind him.”

Real Madrid had a strong start to the season, winning 13 of their first 14 matches before experiencing a setback with a 1-0 loss to Liverpool. This was followed by three LaLiga draws and defeats against Celta Vigo and Manchester City. However, the team rebounded with three wins before the Christmas break, including a resounding 5-1 victory over Real Betis in LaLiga.

“From my perspective in the dressing room, we’re all behind the coach,” Bellingham reiterated. “We must remain united in challenging times. Looking at the situation from another angle, as we head into a [Supercopa] semifinal, we are currently second in the league, just four points off the top, and in the Champions League’s top eight. It’s not a disaster by any means. At Real Madrid, everything tends to be exaggerated during tough times, but that’s part of what makes it a special place. We hope for a win tomorrow, but decisions regarding Alonso are beyond my responsibility.”

Bellingham, along with coach Alonso, expressed support for Vinícius, who has not scored in Madrid’s last 15 matches. “Vini is under immense pressure as both a player and a person,” Bellingham remarked. “Sometimes, his actions on the pitch stem from pure emotion. We must remember that he is a human being, and that can affect his performance. I see him as an electrifying player capable of creating opportunities from nothing. The current goal tally does not reflect his true contributions. We all recognize that when he’s at his best, our team is significantly stronger.”

Alonso also acknowledged the importance of Vinícius for the upcoming matches, stating, “There’s a lot of season left, with many crucial games ahead. Vini will be important; we need him at his best and connected to the team. When he enjoys himself on the pitch, he can break down defenses.”

Additionally, Alonso defended his management of star forward Kylian Mbappé, who will miss the Supercopa due to a knee sprain, following his participation in three matches over the week leading up to Christmas. “Decisions are made based on the circumstances,” Alonso explained. “We want to have [Mbappé] back as soon as possible. We’ve made efforts, but this match has come too soon for him.”