Jude Bellingham admitted that Real Madrid were nowhere near good enough in their 3-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Despite arriving in North London as the firm favourites, largely as a result of their unmatched pedigree in the competition, Madrid found themselves on the back foot for most of the game with Arsenal capping a dominant second half display with a comfortable win.
Following a largely even and eventful first half at the Emirates, the Gunners bagged three stunning goals inside seventeen second-half minutes. Two absolutely fantastic free-kicks from Declan Rice were followed by a tidy finish from Mikel Merino.
Bellingham, who himself endured a difficult game, conceded Arsenal’s superiority on the night but backed Los Blancos to turn things around at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“We were nowhere near it,” he told Amazon Prime. “That’s the fact and Arsenal were really good. I know two of their goals were free-kicks, but they could have had way more.
“There is a second leg and that’s what we’re holding on to. We need something really special, something crazy really, but one place where crazy things happen is our house.
“[We have] 90 more minutes at home to pull something out of the bag.
“They’re two great pieces of individual quality and, if it wasn’t for them, they still had other chances. We got punished and that happens at top-level football.
“In these games, you need to create more. Very rarely do you come to a place like this, score one goal and take your lead back home. They reacted really well to the transition. We didn’t do enough on the ball to threaten.
“We’re still alive, we’ve got 90 minutes of football, and anything can happen at the Bernabeu.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
