‘Couldn’t continue’

Published 30/04/2024 at 23:06 GMT

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed why Jude Bellingham was substituted during Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich. The England international only last 75 minutes before being replaced by Luka Modric in Germany. His manager admits that the midfielder “wasn’t at his best” before being hooked off, but says the former Borussia Dortmund man was “tired.”

Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid applauds the fans at full-time following the team’s draw in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany

Image credit: Getty Images

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insists Jude Bellingham “will be at 100% again” when they face Bayern Munich in the second leg.

That was only after the England international had been hooked off after 75 minutes though, replaced by Luka Modric.

There was a sense of surprise when the midfielder was withdrawn, and Ancelotti has now explained his reasoning.

“Bellingham was just tired,” he said. “He couldn’t continue any more. I have enough good players on the bench. He will get back to his best performance.

“I think he was injured, which affected him, but today he wasn’t at his best. He will be back, for sure, and on Wednesday he will be at 100% again.”

Real had surged into a 1-0 lead through Vinicius Junior at the Allianz Arena, but they lost control of the game after half-time when goals from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane turned the game on its head.

Thomas Tuchel’s side could not hold on though, with Vinicius Junior converting a late equaliser from the penalty spot.

Ancelotti added: “It was an interesting game, an open game of course. I think we can play better.

“I think we didn’t play our best version. We had a problem in the first half with the low block, too deep. Second half, when we started to put pressure to equalise the game, it was much better.

“I think that we were comfortable with the low block, but we didn’t put intensity there. When you have a low block, you have to put more intensity.

“You have to win duals, you have to win second balls, and we were too low. We tried to change something in the second half. In the second half, we started really well, but we concede two goals when our moment was good.

“The game was difficult when we were 2-1 down. After that, I think we had the energy and the character to equalise the game, to win the second part of the second half was really good.”

That means the tie is all-square heading into the return leg at the Bernabeu, and Ancelotti concluded: “[It will be] exciting. [It will be] open. You never know what will happen, but it will be as exciting as it was tonight.”

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