Jude Bellingham:“We want Vinícius to be the best version of himself again”

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham spoke to the media in Jeddah on Wednesday ahead of a Madrid derby in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, and did so to defend his team-mate Vinícius Júnior as he said, “there’s a lot of pressure on him, he does a lot of good for the team. Maybe he’s also blocked in front of goal, but I see an electric and creative player who creates out of nothing. Goals don’t tell the whole story. You have to see him as a very useful teammate. We want him to be the best Vini again, when he’s at his best he’s very dangerous. We have to support him. He’ll be back to his old self”.

Bellingham on the kind of match he is expecting

“The key is that it will be difficult; they are tough opponents. We have to learn from that match against them in La Liga, our first defeat of the season. We have reviewed that match and learned from it. I am looking forward to this match.”

Bellingham on adapting to a new role since Mbappé arrived

“It’s been an easy change. In my first season, there was no natural striker, I played very close to the box. But now with Mbappé, we have a striker who scores 50 goals a season, so I don’t have to be so far forward. I have to cover other areas of the pitch. Every season I’ll contribute my goals, I have that ability. Last year I scored 15, which isn’t bad at all. This season I’ve scored a few. I’m playing a little further back, I have more influence on the play. I have to cover different areas of the pitch. Goals have never been the most important thing. I have that finishing ability, but I can do everything where I play now.”

Bellingham on Saudi Arabia’s preparations for the 2034 World Cup

“The facilities are very good, the turf, the pitches… You can watch important matches. There is hunger in the country. Those in charge must take the tournaments to different continents so that the sport can grow. It’s a bit of a long trip, but the experience has been good. Hopefully we can come back here and be at that 2034 World Cup.”

Bellingham on Xabi Alonso’s future

“I don’t make decisions, I can give my opinion. We’re all united in the dressing room, we have to be united. Sometimes there are these ups and downs. We have to look at where we are now, in a semi-final, four points behind the leaders, in the top eight of the Champions League… It’s not a disaster. We want to be better, I hope we can win. The decisions are made far above us.”

Bellingham on the difference between Xabi Alonso and Carlo Ancelotti

“We have talked about the problems, but we know what is going on in the dressing room. We are with the manager, there is no debate. He is being positive, we are working to improve. I get on very well with everyone. If things are not going well, then we sit down and talk. We are fully behind the manager.”