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."
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing mounting speculation about his future after a series of poor results, with bookmakers already listing potential replacements.
Among the frontrunners are Andoni Iraola and Thomas Frank, both of whom have impressed with their tactical approaches at Bournemouth and Brentford, respectively.
Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has also been mentioned as a possible return candidate, given his past success at the club.
Despite the growing rumors, Postecoglou remains focused on his work, stating, “I’m not concerned about the noise; my focus is on improving this team every single day.”
However, Tottenham’s recent struggles in domestic cup competitions have only intensified the discussions surrounding his future.
While some supporters believe Postecoglou deserves more time, others argue that a managerial change is necessary to revive Tottenham’s ambitions.
Club chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly assessing all options, with an insider noting, “Levy is always keeping an eye on potential managerial changes, but he still backs Postecoglou—at least for now.”
With Tottenham currently outside the Champions League qualification spots, the pressure continues to mount, and a string of poor results could force the club’s hand.
A former Spurs player weighed in on the situation, saying, “This is a crucial period for the club. The next few matches will determine whether Postecoglou stays or if a new face steps in to take charge.”
As uncertainty looms, Tottenham fans will be eagerly watching how the club navigates this delicate situation.
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