Jude Bellingham expressed his delight with the “freedom” he feels in his new position under coach José Mourinho following his goal in Real Madrid‘s 4-0 victory against Málaga on Sunday.
The England sensation opened the scoring at the Bernabéu in the 19th minute with a precise low shot from the right side. He also played a crucial part in the second goal, as his header prompted a defensive mishap, contributing to Madrid’s perfect start to the LaLiga season with three wins in three matches.
Bellingham has already tallied two goals and two assists in these three outings, earning praise from Mourinho, who called him an “absolutely incredible player” after the match.
Discussing his role, Bellingham stated on Real Madrid TV, “I feel a bit more free now, able to move forward and retreat when necessary. I’m enjoying it a lot, and that’s why I believe I’m playing well.”
He scored during Madrid’s 2-1 victory against Espanyol to kick off the season and assisted two goals in their 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, demonstrating consistency in his performances.
However, the midfielder expressed frustration regarding the game’s closing moments, acknowledging that although they led 3-0 after thirty minutes, it wasn’t until the 91st minute that they scored again.
“It was a fantastic match, but the last 20 minutes were quite poor,” Bellingham shared. “I’m not quite sure why; we just didn’t perform well.”
Mourinho commented on Bellingham’s high standards, saying, “He is very demanding of himself and of those around him, which I appreciate. I’ve expressed that I don’t want to see him playing as a second left-back.”
Reflecting on past experiences, Mourinho mentioned, “When we faced Benfica in the Champions League, he kept dropping deep on the left. He understands his responsibilities and feels comfortable executing them.”
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Bellingham received a standing ovation from the Bernabéu fans when he was substituted in the 87th minute. “It’s always very special to receive such an acknowledgment,” he remarked. “It’s an honor to represent this club in this stadium. The ovation meant a lot to me.”
Mourinho expressed satisfaction with the on-field connection that Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior have displayed. “Top players actively seek to play together,” the coach added. “They want to engage with others who share the same quality and quick thinking. Prior to my arrival, many said I wouldn’t want this trio, claiming they were incompatible. But I’ve always maintained that I want the best players…and that’s exactly what I see.”
On Sunday, Mourinho made five changes to the squad, introducing Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Eduardo Camavinga, and Brahim Díaz.
“We possess a robust squad, filled with talent everywhere,” Bellingham noted. “Whenever the boss decides to make a shift, those who didn’t start are always prepared. That’s why we performed so well today.”