Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has given a strong indication that Jude Bellingham will be fit to start Sunday’s Supercopa de Espana final against arch-rivals Barcelona.
Bellingham put Madrid ahead with a goal against Mallorca in the eventual 3-0 semi-final win in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but appeared to be struggling with a muscle injury towards the end of the game.
The English midfielder appeared to be uncomfortable, fueling speculation that he might miss out heavyweight clash with Barcelona – they saw off Athletic Club 2-0 in their semi-final thanks to goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal – but Ancelotti’s words at his pre-match press conference suggest fans have nothing to worry about.
“He recovered well, he finished the game with little effort,” Ancelotti reflected. “He has a great run and feels good. He is the player who has made the difference for us in the last few games.”
The Italian went on to talk about the challenge of trying to win the Clasico Barcelona – something his team failed to do earlier this season. Indeed, Madrid were humiliated at their own venue in October, loses 4-0 in front of the shocked fans of Santiago Bernabeu.
“In these matches, quality becomes more important than the balance of the team, individual moments outweigh the collective play,” noted Ancelotti. “On the field, there is a great individual who can be more important than the team, especially when it comes to defense. However, balance and teamwork will be very important tomorrow – if you defend well, you have a better chance of winning.”
On the significance of winning the Supercopa de España, the five-time European Cup winner added “whenever we won, we had a great season, while whenever we lost, we usually didn’t win La Liga or Champions League. It’s a competition that brings extra motivation and sets you on a strong path to continue the rest of the season.”
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