Real Madrid came away with a 3-1 win over Pachuca, but the match wasn’t without its complications. Speaking after the game, Jude Bellingham, who opened the scoring, shared his thoughts on the performance and addressed the incident involving teammate Raúl Asensio.
“The red card made things difficult, but we showed personality and managed to control the situation,” Bellingham said. “Courtois was unbelievable tonight he really kept us in the game when it mattered.”
Courtois Saves the Day
Thibaut Courtois made history during the match, registering the most saves ever by a goalkeeper in a Club World Cup fixture with 10 stops. But Bellingham admitted that ideally, Courtois wouldn’t have so much to do.
“We want Courtois to have less work, but when you’ve got the best keeper in the world behind you, it gives you confidence. Asensio made a small mistake, but that’s part of learning he’s still young,” the English midfielder added.
Praise for Xabi Alonso
Bellingham also praised Real Madrid’s new coach, Xabi Alonso, for how the team reacted after going down to ten men.
“Xabi is top-class. I speak to him a lot his ideas are clear, and we’re all buying into this new chapter,” Bellingham explained.
Surgery Confirmed
The 21-year-old also revealed that he’ll undergo surgery after the Club World Cup to finally address the shoulder problem that’s been troubling him for months.
“The pain isn’t as bad now, but playing with the sling has been frustrating. I’ve lost so much weight sweating in these games,” Bellingham admitted. “The doctors and physios have been great, but I’ve decided — after the tournament, I’m getting it sorted. I just want to feel free again.”
With the Club World Cup still underway, Bellingham remains focused on helping Real Madrid, but his long-overdue recovery is now firmly on the horizon.
