Carlo Ancelotti, the seasoned manager of Real Madrid, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to navigate through the absence of the talented midfielder, Jude Bellingham.
Despite Bellingham’s unfortunate injury ruling him out of Tuesday’s crucial Champions League round-of-16 first leg against RB Leipzig due to a sprained ankle,
Ancelotti remains optimistic about his squad’s depth and resilience.
“We never think about those [players] who aren’t here,” Ancelotti said in a pre-match news conference in Leipzig on Monday.
“It’s more fair to think about those who are here. Without Bellingham, we’ve won four games out of four [this season].
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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.”
Bellingham’s absence will be felt in Real Madrid‘s upcoming fixtures, including the first leg against Leipzig, as well as clashes against Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla in La Liga.
There’s a possibility he might also miss the Valencia match, but he’s expected to return for the encounter against Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu.
While losing Bellingham is undoubtedly a significant setback for Real Madrid, given his stellar performances since his arrival last summer,
Carlo Ancelotti still has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal.
Brahim Diaz is likely to step up in Bellingham’s absence, showcasing the depth and versatility within the squad.
