Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has backed his players to cope with the absence of Jude Bellingham as the midfielder is set to miss a number of games due to an ankle sprain starting with Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash against RB Leipzig.
The England international is expected to miss three weeks after limping off in the 57th minute of Saturday’s 4-0 La Liga victory over Girona, which gave Madrid a five-point lead at the top of the league table.
With 20 goals in all competitions this season, including four in his five Champions League appearances thus far as the La Liga powerhouses topped their group, Bellingham leads Madrid’s goal scorers.
“We never think about those [players] who aren’t here,” Ancelotti said in a pre-match news conference in Leipzig on Monday as echoed by ESPN.
“It’s more fair to think about those who are here. Without Bellingham, we’ve won four games out of four [this season]. Those who’ve replaced him have done well, whether it’s Brahim [Díaz] or Joselu.
“Bellingham is a very good player — like [Thibaut] Courtois,[Éder] Militão, [David] Alaba — but tomorrow it’s an opportunity to be even more motivated.”
See Also: Joe Rodon Issued A Warning To Swansea City, Telling Leeds United Players To “Not Complain”
Due to a strike action by airport security, Madrid had to take a plane to Erfurt, which is about 90 miles away from Leipzig. And then take a bus to complete the trip.
According to Bild, Madrid’s bus was involved in a minor collision with a car on the way. Though, no injuries were reported.
COMMENTS