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Craig Burley can’t stop praising Jude Bellingham after scoring in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Napoli in the Champions League. (0:54)
Carlo Ancelotti compared Jude Bellingham favorably with Zinedine Zidane after the midfielder’s man-of-the-match performance in Real Madrid’s 4-2 Champions League win over Napoli on Wednesday.
Bellingham’s header gave Madrid a 2-1 lead in Group C at the Santiago Bernabeu after Giovanni Simeone gave Napoli the lead and Rodrygo equalised for the hosts.
Napoli’s Frank Zambo Anguissa made it 2-2 after half-time and youngster Nico Paz restored Madrid’s lead, before Bellingham provided an assist for Joselu to secure the win in added time.
“It’s difficult to compare two different generations,” Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference when asked about comparisons with Zidane, who was watching the game at the Bernabeu. “What I see is [Bellingham’s] ability to get into the box. Zidane didn’t have that. And the individual quality which Zidane had, Bellingham doesn’t have.
“But that’s what fashion football is all about. Modern football requires physical players like Bellingham, who can quickly cover a giant part of the pitch. “
The English foreigner has scored 15 goals in 16 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring goals in each and every one of the club’s Champions League matches so far.
“He looked like he was very tired midway through the second half,” Ancelotti said. “It took him 10 minutes and then in the last 15 minutes he made the difference to help us win. It’s surprising. I don’t think you could imagine his adaptation to this taste of football, to this club.
“He surprises every day, every game. Not just us, it surprises everyone. [Bellingham] is a gift to football. His coach and teammates are very happy with him, and the fans are very happy with him. “However, each and every one of us is very happy to see it. To see a player with that perspective and that positive image. “
After Joselu scored in the 94th minute (squandering several chances earlier), Bellingham encouraged his teammate to receive applause from the Bernabeu crowd.
“Bellingham is a young, serious professional,” Ancelotti said. “He’s adapted well to the dressing room. He has to improve his Spanish. As I’ve said many times, nobody is perfect!”
Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, in top form, said: “I don’t even have words”, when asked to describe Bellingham’s impact. “He’s exciting to play with. “
With the 4-2 victory, Madrid qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League as champions of the organization, with victories so far.
Madrid, who are dealing with an injury crisis which means eight players are currently unavailable to coach Ancelotti, host Granada on Saturday, are top of the LaLiga table.