It was the usual night in the UEFA Champions League for Carlo Ancelotti as he sat calmly in his seat, raised his eyebrows, and his Real Madrid team did the rest in a thrilling game against Napoli. Carlo Ancelotti and his team always seemed to unlock a different gear in the Champions League, as they never felt the urge to rush despite falling behind. After Kepa’s mistake leading to the opener for Napoli, the team rallied in unison behind Jude Bellingham as he stole the show again for Los Blancos. Although English players are often overhyped and oversold in the media, Jude Bellingham proves he is just a cut above the rest.
@ultrasmadridinfo Foto Mahall 😎 #judebellingham #viniciusjunior #napoli #CapCut ♬ suara asli – ULTRAS MADRID
Jude Bellingham Continues to Shine for Los Blancos
It has been a dream start for Carlo Ancelotti’s new golden boy, Jude Bellingham, as he started life in Real with a bang and scored four goals in his first four appearances for the club in La Liga. With such a rapid start, he tied the same record only held by Cristiano Ronaldo. Furthermore, he has his own viral celebration that athletes from other sports, such as Carlos Alcaraz, are imitating.
However, the 20-year-old did not stop to enjoy his achievement, as he demonstrated his star quality again today as he slid and intercepted a pass from Di Lorenzo and set up the returning Vinicius Junior for the equaliser. Then, he took matters into his own hands by striding forward fearlessly at the Napoli defence from the halfway line and taking four of them on before directing the ball into the back of the net with a composed side-foot finish.
The goal means he equals yet another record of Cristiano as he became only the third player to score in his first two Champions League games for Los Blancos after his 94th-minute winner against Union Berlin. Moreover, he has now scored eight goals and recorded three assists for Real. The sky is the limit for the young Englishman, and Carlo Ancelotti will be delighted to secure the signing of the season.
🫲 @BellinghamJude‘s season so far: 🫱
Goals: 8️⃣
Assists: 3️⃣
Hearts stolen: ♾ pic.twitter.com/7ZTh9Wsk7O— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 3, 2023
Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric Made a Welcoming Return to Action
While Jude Bellingham will earn all the plaudits, it is unjustifiable not to mention Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric after their roles in the win. After marking his return to action in late September last month, Vinicius Junior has started two games in a row for Real and reminded fans of the dynamic he brings to the team. For example, the composed touch and finish he displayed today against Napoli.
As for Luka Modric, who signed a one-year extension this summer, also marks his return to the squad with an experienced display on the pitch. With reports suggesting a rift between him and Carlo Ancelotti surfacing due to his lack of game time, the gaffer immediately dismissed the speculations and claimed it was a tactical decision.
“He has started the first Champions League game against Union Berlin, the derby against Atletico Madrid. He has not played the last two because there is good competition. There are seven midfielders, and only four can play. Also, when I started five midfielders on, the media criticised me, so it is better to stay with four.” When asked about his performance today, Carlo Ancelotti replied: “He did what we knew he could do. He brought his experience and knowledge of football to help the team, playing a high-quality 30 minutes. He is motivated and can contribute.”
Ancelotti: “Modrić has no problem with us, we’ve no problem with Luka”. 🇭🇷
“There’s nothing wrong with Modrić. He didn’t play but this could change next game. One day Modrić is on the bench but the other day could be Kroos or Tchouaméni, Camavinga…”. pic.twitter.com/rmD4s9EHAT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 2, 2023
Carlo Ancelotti Lauds Complete Performance but Left Frustrated at Controversial Penalty
Despite the big away win that saw them go clear at the top of the table, Carlo Ancelotti felt frustrated at the controversial penalty given to Napoli. “I think it was not a penalty. It rebounded onto the hand of Nacho – you cannot cut your hand off! The rule says that on a rebound, you cannot give a foul.”
However, the frown did not stay for long when the press asked him about the performance of his own team. “It was a complete performance. We played very well in the first half, responding well to their opening goal by creating chances and taking the lead. The penalty was a turning point, and we suffered for 10 or 15 minutes, but then retook control and scored the winner at the end. I think the result is fair.”
Carlo Ancelotti also reserved praise for Jude Bellingham for yet another star-studded display. “The most surprising thing about Bellingham is that he is only 20. He acts with maturity as if he were 30 years old. It is rare to see the qualities of such a young player. Obviously, he is surprising everyone.”
🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: “Jude Bellingham quality, maturity and character are incredible for his age.” pic.twitter.com/2X980RtSjM
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 3, 2023
Where to Watch the UEFA Champions League Highlights and Latest News?
After the entertaining Wednesday Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League, it is evident that you may have missed some of the action. Thus, head onto AsiaSport to watch all the highlights from every match or recap the latest news about your club. Want to rewatch the majestic solo goal from Jude Bellingham? Here is a clip from the website.
