Life has not been good for those with Real Madrid tickets. In just two weeks, the side lost 4-0 to Real Maadird and suffered a disappointing defeat to AC Milan.
That, too, was a loss, 3-1. The Los Blancos scored a goal from a penalty, and Rela had not done much during the game at home.
Once a fortress where away teams struggled to make ground looks like it is slowly fading away.
The AC Milan game allowed most fans in seats with options from the secondary ticket marketplace to gain consolation from their previous encounter.
But that didn’t go that well, and fans are already quite vocal about asking the management questions about how the ever-so-successful Real Madrid team is exhibiting such a below-par level of performance.
One of the key conversations revolves around Jude Bellingham. Real’s golden boy from last season, who transferred from Borussia Dortmund soon after, is missing from all of the action.
Fans with Real Madrid tickets adored his attacking acumen and tactical prowess last season. Still, questions about whether Kylian Mbappe’s new transfer killed a successful setup are now raised.
One of the bigger questions is how one player who was involved in quite a few games last season remained silent throughout the season.
Thierry Henry Backs Jude Bellingham
Former Champions League winner Thierry Henry delivered a stinging criticism of Real Madrid’s misfiring Kylian Mbappe while defending the goalless Jude Bellingham.
Henry had his say after Real Madrid’s limp 3-1 defeat at home to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. At the end of October, arch-rivals Barcelona thumped Carlo Ancelotti’s side 4-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu, and the Italian coach has revealed his concerns with a team he freely admits “is not playing well.”
Mbappe has been a lightning rod for plenty of backlash after a poor run of form. The French summer arrival is yet to settle in Madrid and boasts just five non-penalty goals in 15 appearances across all competitions this season.
As a pundit for CBS Sports, Henry offered an impassioned defense for the England midfielder while taking down his countryman. “It’s almost always Bellingham that tries to make the runs, makes the team play,” the former Barcelona player explained.
“He is still the one who tries to break the lines. Who is running and trying to get to the finish line? It’s Bellingham that is doing Mbappe’s job.
“This can happen from time to time, but not all the time. Do you think Bellingham likes to do these runs to stretch the team? He does it because he has the desire and the will to do it.”
Despite being injury-free, Mbappe was surprisingly left out of France’s squad for this month’s upcoming internationals. Former Madrid forward Karim Benzema argued that the natural left winger was struggling to find his position in a team that already includes Vinicius Junior.
Henry conceded at the end of his fierce critique of Mbappe: “You have to give him time, but he must learn to play as a ‘nine’ and have the desire and the will to do so. I think the team is frustrated with him, which I can understand.”
Madrid Management Observing the Bellingham Situation
Members of the Real Madrid board are reportedly concerned about Carlo Ancelotti’s erratic deployment of ‘Galactico’ midfielder Jude Bellingham.
They believe the Englishman has been one of the biggest losers under Ancelotti this season.
Real Madrid paid a hefty €113 million ($121.6 million) fee to sign Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in July 2023. With Karim Benzema gone, manager Ancelotti deployed Bellingham as an attacking-midfielder/center-forward hybrid, permitting him to set up camp in the opposition’s third.
The bold move paid off, as Bellingham emerged as one of Los Blancos’ clinical players. He chipped in with 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 games in all competitions. His goal contributions proved critical as Madrid won the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Supercopa de Espana. Fans who were regulars with the side, following them until the Champions League triumph, thanks to many available options from the secondary ticket marketplace, thought they had just discovered the future in the youngster.
In his first season, arousing ell to the pressure and expectations of Spain, Bellingham did an exceptional job. On top of that, it felt that the side had found a new leader in the Englishmen since they were often seen rallying the troops in attack and defense.
Bellingham’s transition from a masterclass performance as a midfielder to not scoring or assisting in any of the previous games concernedthe fans with Real Madrid tickets.
The signing of Mbappe might be the reason for the disruption.
One big relief however was Bellingham finding his mojo against Ossasuna, scoring a brilliant goal in the first half. Mbappe did not play the Ossasuna fixture.
In July 2024, Real Madrid welcomed Kylian Mbappe to the club, hoping he would add a new dimension to the already excellent attack.
Unfortunately for the club, things have not gone according to plan, with Mbappe struggling to thrive as a center-forward. Mbappe’s arrival also greatly impacted Bellingham, who had to drop to a more profound role in midfield.
The 21-year-old still makes runs into the box but has yet to reap the rewards, with Bellingham still waiting for his first goal after playing 12 games across competitions.
According to Spanish outlet Relevo, Bellingham has become a source of concern for members of the Real Madrid board.
They believe his situation under Ancelotti is unknown, unhinged, and misguided. Bellingham is now seen as one of the biggest losers in the team, as he does not have a fixed position in Ancelotti’s lineup. The former Borussia Dortmund man plays in almost every game but is failing to excel due to the constant shuffling of positions.
As a team, Real Madrid has yet to fire this season. The reigning Spanish champions are in second place in La Liga rankings, sitting nine points behind leaders Barcelona. They are in an even poorer position in the UEFA Champions League standings, toiling in 18th place after four matches.
Real will need to act fast, but that doesn’t really translate to a change of manager. Ancelotti has done well with Real, but changes to the team structure might be the right solution for the club to turn its fortunes around.
Options for the UEFA Champions League for Real Madrid are now available in the secondary ticket marketplace.
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