Virus Hampers Bellingham's Performance Against Bayern
Carlo Ancelotti justified the English international's low performance in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Bayern Munich.
Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid, expressed his confidence that Jude Bellingham will regain his top form in the final stretch of the season and perform very well in the decisive match against Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals, justifying his low performance in the first leg due to an "intestinal virus."
"Bellingham simply had an intestinal virus on Wednesday night, which didn't allow him to recover 100% a week later," Ancelotti explained. "Now he is very well and will perform very well, as he has always done throughout this season," he added, expressing his confidence in the English midfielder's level for the upcoming match at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Before that, Real Madrid will face Cádiz in the same stadium, a match in which 'Carletto' will make mass rotations to give rest to his starters. He confirmed the return to the field of play of Thibaut Courtois, after recovering from two knee injuries that have kept him from playing this season, and the starts of Éder Militao and Arda Güler.
"The goal is clear, to earn three points against Cádiz to get closer to winning the competition. In our minds, we have only this, to perform against a team fighting to avoid relegation and that will come to the Bernabéu with all its energy to earn points," Ancelotti stated.
"Militao will play tomorrow to gain match fitness and Güler will start," he revealed, before expressing his pride in coaching the current squad. "It's difficult to compare it with others. In this one, without comparing it with other eras, I see extraordinary collective commitment and a lack of ego," he praised.
"I have never had a season with only two losses. Hopefully, we can continue this streak until the end of the season. The squad has done fantastically well with a lot of commitment. Everyone has contributed a lot, those who have played every game and those who have played fewer minutes. We reach the end of the season with great excitement and a strong desire to win titles," Ancelotti acknowledged.