Bellingham on finding his smile after Euros and friendship with Trent
26/11/2024
Anfield stadium, Liverpool, UK
26/11/2024
Anfield stadium, Liverpool, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00We're going to begin the press conference.
00:23Please have in mind that we do one question per intervention.
00:26We're going to begin the press conference.
00:32Hello, Jude.
00:34VĂctorio Calero, live for Real Madrid TelevisiĂłn.
00:38Tomorrow we play what should be a classic in Europe, Liverpool vs Real Madrid.
00:44Do you think that Liverpool, at the moment, are one of the most informed sides on the continent?
00:56I think that's clear. Obviously they're top of the league in England.
01:00I think top of the Champions League standings at the minute as well.
01:04I think it's clear to see how good of a team they are.
01:07They've got players who have come to a new level.
01:10Some of the younger lads and then the more experienced lads who have been world class for a long time.
01:15It'll be a great test but a great game. I'm still confident.
01:19What would Bellingham say?
01:32They're saying that Real Madrid and all their injuries are going to be conceding quite a few goals
01:39and struggling tomorrow because of all the injuries and players out.
01:43That's what you guys might be saying.
01:46Inside our dressing room, inside our bus, we're confident.
01:50We've had injuries before and we've managed to pull through.
01:54I have complete trust and complete faith in the squad that we have.
01:59All the players can make an impact, whether it's from the starting XI or from the bench.
02:03Historically, whenever players have had to come in, they've always performed really well.
02:07No worries about that whatsoever.
02:11Dario Araujo for Caliente TV.
02:13Excuse me, I'm going to give the tournament.
02:15Let's go with MartĂn de Oquidiario.
02:22How are you, MartĂn de Oquidiario?
02:24The other day, in the Leganés game, that was probably your best performance of the season.
02:30You played a little bit further forward than you did last year.
02:33Do you feel more comfortable in that part of the field?
02:37Not being stuck out on the field, but out wide.
02:40Did you feel more comfortable against Leganés?
02:43I think it was a good game.
02:45I think I played well, obviously.
02:47The goal maybe clouds the stuff a little bit in terms of my other performances.
02:52When I look at my performances this season, I'm really honest when I review them.
02:56I think they've been of a good level.
02:58The difference is that they probably don't make the headlines because of the goals.
03:02I set a high expectation from last year, and I have expectations to score goals.
03:07But I think even so far this season, when I haven't, I've still managed to perform at a high level in games.
03:12The game the other day was good.
03:14The position was a bit more fluid than I've played in.
03:18Sometimes this season, I'm certainly not a wide player.
03:21I think that's clear.
03:23I play my best football when I'm free to roam, especially in the middle of the pitch.
03:27Long may it continue.
03:33Hi, Yuv. How are you?
03:39You've played in a few different roles this season, different places on the field positions.
03:45How have you experienced that?
03:48And how are you settling into this new Real Madrid, since the arrival of Kylian Mbappe?
03:54How have you seen things yourself during this settling in period for the new players?
04:00It's been like any kind of adaptation to a team.
04:05Players have left, great players have joined.
04:08It changes the dynamics slightly of how maybe we want to play or the formations we'll be playing.
04:15The positions of certain players have always shown that I can play in multiple positions because of my skill set.
04:22I'm happy to sacrifice for the team when it's needed.
04:25I think it's clear where I prefer to play.
04:27But I still don't mind in terms of whatever the manager wants me to do.
04:31I don't think the arrival of any player, Kylian, for example, in your question has affected that at all.
04:39We set up to try and beat the opposition.
04:42I'm put in a position that the manager believes is the best position for me in whatever game to have an impact on that game.
04:49I think Kylian's been absolutely great coming in.
04:53I think he gets a lot of criticism and it's a bit over the top for me.
04:57I think if you look at what he's contributed so far, it's really good.
05:02It's scary because I see him every day in training and I know he's only going to get better.
05:06In terms of him coming, I don't think that's been the reason why I've changed positions.
05:11Like you said, we've had a lot of injuries as well.
05:13Things you've got to adapt to in a game, in a club and in a team.
05:18Jude, it follows on from the chat about yourself at the moment.
05:22Obviously, after the game against Ireland, you put out that you'd got your smile back in an England shirt and you're very grateful.
05:28When and why did you lose that smile?
05:31Was it purely at an international level or was it to do with club form as well?
05:35No, I think, like I said, when I've reviewed the games, I've felt like my form has been OK.
05:39Pretty good, to be honest, I just haven't been scoring goals.
05:42That's not the reason why I probably lost.
05:45I've got to be honest, I think I lost my smile a lot after the Euros when it came to playing for England.
05:50I don't know, I felt like I was a little bit mistreated in comparison to what I contributed.
05:57I felt like some of it was a bit harsh on me, I think I felt a bit like the scapegoat.
06:01Maybe I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself.
06:04I think that camp with a lot of new faces really brought out the joy in my game.
06:08Again, I think you could see that in the two games.
06:10But in general, I hadn't lost my smile in the Madrid shirt.
06:13Obviously, I'm annoyed when we lose and I get frustrated and I get upset when we lose.
06:17But it's never a case of not being happy.
06:20I'm the luckiest lad in the world.
06:22I get to play week in, week out for the biggest club in the world and represent my country.
06:26I think that was more to do with a little bit of how I was treated on the back of the Euros.
06:31But, yeah, smile is back.
06:34I wanted to ask you, one of your teammates in the national side, and a friend of yours, Trent Alexander-Arnold,
06:51would you like to play alongside him next season?
06:55Well, I'll be playing alongside him next season for England anyway, hopefully.
06:58So that will be a guarantee.
07:01But, you know, he's a Liverpool player and I think it's disrespectful, especially to come to his home today
07:06and speak with a huge game tomorrow, to speak something that could be misconstrued or anything like that.
07:13So I think it's important to take that kind of pressure off him.
07:16Obviously, he's a really good mate of mine and I want him to do really well.
07:20Normally, obviously not tomorrow night.
07:22But, yeah, we'll see what happens.
07:25But, like I said, he's a Liverpool player.
07:27Hey, you, how are you? Joel Del Rio from Marca.
07:30I'm going to try in English if you want.
07:33I would like to know if you are the most important thing of the team, is the adaptability.
07:40We have seen Valverde playing as a midfielder, also as a winger the last game.
07:45You can play also in many positions.
07:48But I just want to know if you are really happy in that position,
07:52because the last four games, two with the national teams and two with Real Madrid,
07:56it seems like you are happier now than ever.
08:04So I just want to know if you have talked with Carlo Ancelotti about that.
08:08Amazing English, my friend.
08:10I speak with Ancelotti every day and I have a good relationship with the coach.
08:15Like I said, I've filled in positions to make sacrifices, just like other players have.
08:21I think it's highlighted a bit more because, like I said, I've not scored as many goals.
08:25But I think if you look at my all-round contribution in other positions,
08:28I feel like I can still affect games.
08:30But I know where I'm most effective.
08:32I think I've relayed that to the coach.
08:34But also, just like Fede, just like Kama, Aurelien,
08:38we're a team of many players with a broad skill set.
08:42We're quite complete.
08:44So when it's necessary at times, we have to fill in positions,
08:47because that's what a squad does and the injuries don't help.
08:51But I definitely know where I'm most comfortable on the pitch.
08:54It's my responsibility the way that I interpret a position as well.
08:57I think if I'm put into a certain position,
09:00it's my responsibility to try and maximise it as well as I can
09:03and not let that be an excuse for me.
09:05So, yeah, whatever the coach asks me, I'll do it,
09:08and I'll try and do it to the best of my ability.
09:10Jude, just to follow up on the smile back on your face question,
09:14you said you felt like you were maybe a scapegoat for the Euros.
09:17Could you maybe expand on what exactly you felt?
09:21Was the media putting pressure on you, or what was it?
09:24For me, pressure's not a problem.
09:26I understand that playing for Real Madrid,
09:29the expectations are going to be high for me wherever I go,
09:32even if it's with the national team.
09:34I felt like I contributed some pretty big moments,
09:38and in the end it felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me
09:42after the Euros, especially after the three days following the final.
09:47It wasn't a nice feeling.
09:49There were a few things that happened during the tournament.
09:52I think one of the big criticisms of me was that I didn't speak to the media,
09:56I didn't want to do any press conferences.
09:58I think that was reported in a way that made it sound like I think I'm above it.
10:03It's not that at all.
10:05I had some personal things going on where journalists had gone to go
10:08and see members of my family whilst I was at the tournament.
10:12I went to visit my grandparents, and it's something I've kept to myself.
10:18I don't think that's fair. I think that crosses the line of respect.
10:21I think that's where I took it a little bit personally
10:24and decided that I'll just focus on the football
10:26and try and let that do the talking instead of talking in the press
10:29to people that seemingly don't respect me.
10:32That was a big thing for me.
10:35I think my family comes first.
10:37My nan didn't want to leave her house for the whole summer, bless her.
10:41Maybe I should have communicated that before so people understood my situation,
10:45but that was a little bit more personal to me,
10:47and that's why I decided not to, just to keep my mouth shut.
11:11I've said it before, I think Vinny is one of the best players in the world.
11:14If not the best player in the world.
11:16When you get so used to having a player of that presence
11:19and that magnitude on the field, of course it's a big hit when he's not there.
11:23But like I said, I have full faith in the other players we've got
11:26who can step up in those positions.
11:28Obviously I get on with him really well.
11:30He was a little bit upset that he couldn't travel and contribute to the team,
11:33like he has done on so many big nights for us.
11:36But it's our responsibility now as players to each take more responsibility
11:40and step up in his absence.
11:44Jose Padilla, Defensa Central.
11:46A while ago there was talk here in this press conference
11:49that Bellingham could sign for Liverpool.
11:51I wanted to ask you if that's true and what led you to sign for Real Madrid.
12:15I made that decision and they gave me permission to speak to a few clubs.
12:19One thing I have to say is all the clubs I spoke to were very respectful of me
12:23and my family, which for me is a huge value and something I really respected.
12:27So I don't want to say anything that sounds disrespectful to them.
12:30But when Real Madrid come knocking on the door, it shakes the whole house.
12:35It's hard not to open and accept.
12:38So I think, like I've said before, it's not a matter of the other teams weren't good
12:44or they were bad when I spoke to them.
12:46It's just that Real Madrid are on a different level.
12:51Hi, Juanma Sanchez from Radio Nacional.
12:54Congratulations on being the best player of last season.
12:59You scored 23 goals last season.
13:02This year you've scored two.
13:04You've said it's not the most important thing.
13:06Goals are the most important thing.
13:08Ancelotti has also said that we're not as demanding of you in scoring goals
13:14because of what Ancelotti has scored as well.
13:17How important is the manager, Ancelotti, in your work day to day and in games?
13:22Thank you very much for the first bit.
13:24Like you said, I arrived last summer.
13:27The club lost arguably one of the greatest goal scorers of the generation,
13:34Karim Benzema.
13:35I think there was an approach to try and help recover those goals
13:39in a different kind of way.
13:41We signed me, Jose Luis Brahim, and I think collectively covered that hole.
13:47This year we've signed one of the best players of this generation.
13:52He's someone that's scored an amazing amount of goals.
13:57As a team, we expect him to do that.
13:59For me, I know that my role then differs, which I'm happy to do.
14:02I'm a team player.
14:04I also want to take that responsibility.
14:07Now I've got the smell for it again in these last couple of games.
14:10I want to take that responsibility again as well.
14:12It's always nice to contribute with goals as well as playing well.
14:17As for Ancelotti, he's a big impact on the whole dressing room.
14:21I think his calmness, his chilled demeanour radiates around the changing room.
14:28That's why on nights like this we come in and we're very relaxed
14:31regardless of what's going on around us.
14:33We're going to do two last questions for Jude.
14:35Two last questions.
14:36Hi, Jude.
14:37Here on the left, Abraham Romero, El Mundo.
14:39How are you?
14:40You spoke about the criticism in England after the Euros.
14:45And moments when you haven't been scoring for Madrid.
14:49You've got third place in the Ballon d'Or and Vini.
14:57I don't know if all that adds up to a new challenge for the season.
15:04Is that giving you a new challenge, the fact that Madrid got second and third place,
15:15even though they won the Champions League?
15:17It's almost like you've got to bang on the table again and say,
15:19look, we're Madrid and we're going to do well this season.
15:22I think when we won the Champions League, that was our Ballon d'Or.
15:28That's the highest thing you can win as a club.
15:31That's for us, the team being recognised as the best team in the world.
15:34Us being the team to beat in Europe, if you like.
15:38For me, that's probably enough.
15:40I don't think too much into the Ballon d'Or stuff.
15:43There was a lot of talk about it.
15:45Me personally, I think it should have went to someone of Madrid, particularly Vini.
15:52In my opinion, I don't think Roger is an unworthy winner at all.
15:55I think he's an amazing player.
15:57I just felt because of the season we had as a team that it would have been reasonable.
16:03What was the first bit again?
16:11Oh, about the new challenge. Sorry, mate.
16:14Yeah, I was talking too much. I lost my mind.
16:17Yeah, Chris is a part of the game and I know how to accept it,
16:21but when it feels personal, like you said,
16:25it does give you a bit of a new challenge to continue to shut people up.
16:28I think it's something I've dealt with since I was very young,
16:31coming into the first team at Birmingham,
16:33when people aren't quite sure you're ready.
16:35You take those little things and you try and use it as motivation,
16:38but like I said, it's not something I'm really worried about.
16:42I understand it's part of the game.
16:44Last question.
16:51In the last two games, Osasuna and Leganes,
16:55we saw a solid team, not leaving any gaps between the lines,
17:00working with each other.
17:04Why do you think that's been a difference in respect to other games?
17:07Comparison to other games.
17:09Has it been a change of attitude or a change of tactic?
17:12I think when you go through a tough moment as a team in football,
17:15it forces you to have those honest conversations
17:18about what you're not doing well enough,
17:20and I think one of our problems may be we weren't doing the foundational things
17:23as well as we possibly could, and I think in these last two games
17:26what I've really been impressed by as a team
17:29is the attention to detail of the small things.
17:32We'll always have players that can win us games and things like that,
17:35but I think that attention to detail and having the right attitude
17:38about the ball is what's really taken us to that next level in these two games.
17:41It'll be important to show tomorrow night as well,
17:44they're a huge team, obviously a massive game,
17:47and it's the bare minimum for us to show our fans here at Anfield
17:53that we can put on a right face and we can get a result.
17:56Thank you very much.
17:57Thank you all, have a good evening.