Bellingham explodes: The joy and challenge for Xabi Alonso

Jude Bellingham is happy to be given free reign by Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, will be out for two months for surgery and has sparked debate over his specific role.

Bellingham Joy

Jude Bellingham was all smiles as he was given the freedom to play the way he wanted. He was beaming after Real Madrid's win over Pachuca.

“I’m excited about the new coach. He was a great player and now he’s a great coach,” Bellingham said from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Bellingham expressed his joy at playing freely. Photo: RMCF

“For a player in my position, it's great to learn from someone like Xabi . I'm sure the advice he gives me, Valverde , Tchouam and Ni ... we'll absorb it all like sponges . ”

Last season, Bellingham was frustrated at being pushed out of the centre of the action, with Carlo Ancelotti restricting his influence, even temporarily moving him to the right wing as he tried to adjust a team that included Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius.

Last Sunday, with Xabi Alonso, he found himself at the heart of the game again , from organising to scoring.

Such an early return is important, because while the team is adapting to the new coach, Bellingham is about to be absent for at least 2 months to have surgery on a left shoulder injury he suffered in November 2023.

“I scheduled the operation a few days after the Club World Cup final , ” he confirmed. “I’ve waited too long. I’m sick of playing with protective gear , in this heat… I want to feel free with my shoulder and my body . ”

With such a schedule, Bellingham is one of the players most eager to define his role in Xabi Alonso's new system.

“I talk to him a lot, every day . I think the best version of me is when I'm constantly involved in the game, whether high or low, when I'm touching the ball and creating something, breaking through the lines, dribbling, getting into the box and scoring goals, creating chances . When I have the freedom to play fully, that's when I'm at my best, " Bellingham said confidently.

Bellingham wants to be at the centre of the game. Photo: RMCF

The England international sent a message: “ I think Xabi has been kind to me, to play me in a position I really enjoy, where I get a lot of touches on the ball, a lot of involvement. I think the whole team has benefited from that, so I’m very grateful for his trust . ”

Freedom and balance

The freedom and goals have always brought joy to Bellingham, but also made managers wary , from Xabi at Real Madrid to Gareth Southgate ( then ) and Thomas Tuchel (now) at England .

Bellingham discovered the joy of freedom on the pitch when he met Ancelotti in the summer of 2023. He told FIFA Days in September 2023 : “At the moment, I really love football . The coach at club and country gives me the freedom to play the way I see the game . ”

Southgate then began to condition that freedom, that it needed to fit within the overall structure and defensive duties.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Tuchel's successor expressed similar concerns: "We need to find a balance between structure and freedom . "

In fact, Xabi's view is not too different from that of the England coaches: "Jude has the ability to cover a lot of space on the pitch, but he needs to start from the right position."

Behind Bellingham's explosion is a matter of balance. Photo: EFE

After the Al Hilal game, Alonso explained: “I think Jude has the soul of a central midfielder. I think he likes to be involved in the organisation. He has great quality to be involved in the attack. The starting point is very important. Finding the right position for Bellingham will be beneficial for both him and the team . ”

The explosiveness that Xabi mentioned has many benefits for the team, but there are also some contradictions. At EURO 2024 , Bellingham was criticized for showing too much : encroaching on his teammates and reducing their influence.

Tuchel kept that in mind when replacing Southgate : “I need to find the balance, the right connections, who likes to play with who, who has a real connection, who knows how to support others . ”

The joyous win over Pachuca also had some dark undertones. Bellingham was seen repeatedly waving his arms in frustration when Arda Güler , playing closest to him, decided not to pass the ball.

Xabi has given Guler the role of controlling the game with the ball after an impressive performance against Al Hilal . He will replace Bellingham in the next few months, when Jude is out with shoulder surgery.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bellingham-ghi-ban-real-madrid-vu-khi-va-thach-thuc-xabi-alonso-2414841.html