Jude Bellingham supported Real Madrid to get out of the “hole” in the Wednesday quarterfinals of the second stage against Arsenal per night “made” for another famous comeback by the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid Trail 3-0 Champions Champions League from the first stage after Declan Rice’s stunning free cockery and Mikel Merin’s goal gave Arsenal a commanding lead to the Emirates stadium.
The result was left by Carlo Ancelotti with the mountain to climb, but their extraordinary history of European comeback ensures that the mood remains optimistic among players and supporters.
Bellingham helped Real Madrid win the competition last season, but at a press conference in Madrid, he admitted that the level of faith surprised him.
“I told someone the other day that it has been a strange environment in the last few days,” he said.
“It is one of the worst results that we could imagine away from home, and for some reason everyone thinks it is nailed to return.
“It’s a nice feeling, I have to say. That means there’s a lot of confidence in our talent. That means you’re in a club that is unlike others, the best in the world. That’s what it represents for me.
“There is certainly pressure. We will want to deliver what everyone thinks we can come back. That’s a goal for us. There’s pressure, but that’s all, isn’t it?”
Real Madrid returned from the three goal deficit the first leg once in its history, defeating the Derby County 6-5 on the aggregate in 1975/76 after a loss of 4-1 in the first game.
But he asked for a word he heard most of the accumulation of the game, Bellingham said: “Remontada“, Spanish word for comeback.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Real Madrid Manager Carlo Ancelotti says early goal would increase his hopes for an unlikely comeback of the Champions League against Arsenal
“I’ve heard it a million times since last week,” he added. “I saw a million videos of online filmed fans and you.
“It’s a night that is designed for Real Madrid, a night that would go in history, but it would also be something people in this part of the world would familiarize with.
“Hopefully we can add another special night.
“As far as we are concerned to be mentally strong enough, we believe it. You can’t come to games like this because you think there will be nothing but a comeback. We are ready, enthusiasm and look forward to it.”
Real Madrid continued in the history of stunning comebacks last year’s semifinals against Bayern Munich and advanced to the last thanks to two late goals from the surrogate Josel.
This season they also showed their strength to recover and fought back from two goals to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the league phase and then won a dramatic, late 3-2 victories to Manchester City.
“Real Madrid is expected that when we get to these holes, we can go back, even though it is really difficult and difficult,” Bellingham said.
“In England it’s not so common – even though it happened. I think Liverpool did it a few years ago a year they won it.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Shett discusses whether Real Madrid can create another unlikely comeback in the Champions League before their quarterfinals with Arsenal
“It’s just because the club has done it many times, that’s what is impressive on the size of this club, expectations are really huge.”
He added: “What trusts us is the quality we have, the club’s history, fans who appear and give everything at night, aura Bernabeu at these masters’ nights – that’s always something.
“Although we felt we played as bad as we could in (the first stage), we still had chances and we had times when we could earn a little more.
“Normally, when you have your worst games, you feel that you are miles out of it and there is no way to get into the game. But we still had several chances.
“If we were attentive to things that they did really well, we could be in it. We are not stupid but self -confidence in the ability we have.”
Anecelotti: We have to play with our heads, hearts … and “cojones”
Real Madrid chief Ancelotti was similarly optimistic and spoke about the power of fans to help them pull another historical return in Bernabe – if the team got off at their highest level.
“Fans are very important because they have helped us a lot, especially in the last few years. I hope that tomorrow will be the same.
We need a game at our maximum level to try to turn a tie that now looks very difficult and very complicated.
“Tomorrow we will try to change thinking a little and play a serious game with our heads, our hearts and“ cojones ”
“We are motivated and mentally good. It is important to have great heads because we have to control the game.”
Asked about the importance of early scoring, Ancelotti added: “Of course it is soon a score is an important part of the game.
“But the most important part is to have good control over the game. Try to do maximum at the beginning. After you have this check in the game, you can score every minute.”
