Carlo Ancelotti has come to Jude Bellingham's defense, asserting that the contributions he makes to Real Madrid this season are "more important" than simply finding the back of the net.
Bellingham has yet to score in his nine appearances for Madrid this season, a stark contrast to the 23 goals he netted in all competitions during the previous campaign.
The role of the England midfielder has shifted since Kylian Mbappé joined the team, as he started on the right side of the attack during Madrid's 2-1 victory at Celta Vigo on Saturday.
"We're satisfied with his work, I'm very satisfied," Ancelotti remarked at a press conference on Monday, prior to Madrid's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. "He works a lot, he's always present, he competes, he fights, he sacrifices himself.
"It's true he hasn't scored the goals he scored last year, but the surprise isn't this year; the surprise was last year when he scored many goals that nobody expected and helped us a lot. The problem this year isn't that we're lacking Bellingham's goals.
"We've always scored goals, and we'll always score because we have talented players up front. For us, at this moment, the work he's doing is more important than the goals he scored last year."
Madrid is set to face Barcelona in LaLiga's El Clásico on Saturday, sitting three points behind the league leaders.
Mbappé found the net against Celta and has accumulated six league goals this season. Ancelotti expressed that he is unfazed by any criticism regarding the French international's off-the-ball work.
"[I ask him] to score goals," Ancelotti stated. "I prefer him to score goals rather than pressing. The center-forward role hasn't changed for us; I ask the same of Mbappé that I asked Karim [Benzema]: to be ready when we win the ball and try to make a fast transition."
UEFA is considering hosting the Champions League final in the United States, potentially as early as 2027.
This development follows UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA) entering exclusive negotiations with Relevent Sports, a New York-based agency, for global commercial rights to men's club competitions from 2027 to 2033.
Relevent Sports, founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, has a history of organizing major football events, including the International Champions Cup, and aims to bring significant European matches to U.S. soil.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has previously acknowledged this possibility, stating, "Football is extremely popular in the United States these days. Americans are willing to pay [high ticket prices] for the best."
The potential shift to U.S. venues is part of a broader strategy to expand the global reach of European football and tap into the lucrative American market.
This move would mark a significant departure from tradition, as the Champions League final has historically been held in Europe.
The proposed partnership with Relevent Sports could pave the way for this change, with discussions suggesting that a final in the U.S. could occur by 2033.
Relevent Sports has been at the forefront of promoting European football in the U.S., and their collaboration with UEFA could facilitate this landmark event.
However, this proposal has sparked debate among fans and stakeholders.
Traditionalists argue that relocating the final could undermine the competition's European heritage and inconvenience local supporters.
Conversely, proponents believe it would enhance the sport's global profile and generate substantial revenue.
As UEFA and Relevent Sports continue their negotiations, the football community awaits a decision that could redefine the landscape of European club football.
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