Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti Unfazed by Bellingham’s Goal Drought
Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian tactician in charge of Real Madrid, has shrugged off concerns over Jude Bellingham’s lack of goals this season, insisting that the 19-year-old midfielder is still performing well. The Englishman made an incredible start to his Madrid career last year, netting five goals in his first four La Liga matches, including a record-breaking 14 goals in his first 15 games. However, his advanced role on the pitch has since changed, and he is yet to score a goal for the club this season, although he has netted for England.
Ancelotti has dismissed concerns over Bellingham’s goal-scoring drought, emphasizing the importance of his overall contributions to the team. “He’s doing very well, making progress, his condition is very good now even though he’s not scoring goals, his job is very important and he knows it very well,” the coach said in a press conference ahead of Saturday’s Clasico against Barcelona.
This season’s changes in Bellingham’s role have seen him transition from a more attacking midfielder to a more defensive-minded player, which has affected his goal-scoring output. The coach believes that the youngster is still adapting to his new responsibilities, saying, “He’s doing very well, making progress, his condition is very good now even though he’s not scoring goals, his job is very important and he knows it very well.”
Moreover, the departure of Karim Benzema and the arrival of Kylian Mbappe has altered the team’s attack. “Last year we lost an important striker like Karim and we replaced him with the goals of Jude, Brahim, and Joselu,” Ancelotti explained. “Now we have a striker who can score 35 or 40 goals.”
Mbappe, who has a history of scoring 39 or more goals in each of the last six seasons, has already netted eight goals in 13 appearances for Real Madrid, despite struggling with his fitness following a demanding year and limited preseason preparation. “We are happy because he has scored goals,” the coach said. “He was very present in the first two goals against Dortmund. We are already satisfied with what he is doing, but he will do better because he has the qualities to do it. But we are in no hurry.”
