Jude Bellingham has dismissed claims of discord within the Real Madrid dressing room as “fabricated or exaggerated.” He affirmed that the players are “100% behind” coach Xabi Alonso and described his teammate Vinícius Júnior as “as positive as ever.”
Real Madrid experienced a challenging period before Christmas, managing only two wins in their last eight matches across all competitions. This slump has raised concerns about Alonso’s position, especially following a heated moment when Vinícius reacted negatively to being substituted during October’s Clásico.
The team is set to face local rivals Atlético Madrid in the semifinals of the Spanish Supercopa in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, with the prospect of a final against either Barcelona or Athletic Club on Sunday.
“Many of the issues that arise during tough times are either fabricated or overstated,” Bellingham remarked during a press conference at King Abdullah Sports City. “We know the reality of our dressing room dynamics, and we fully support the coach.”
“I interact with Vinícius daily, and he remains as positive as ever. He doesn’t negatively impact the team or detract from our goals. I share a strong bond with him, and if I believed he was harming our efforts, I would speak up. But that’s not the case… As for the manager, we are all completely behind him.”
Real Madrid began the season strong, winning 13 out of their first 14 matches. However, a 1-0 loss to Liverpool was followed by three successive draws in LaLiga and defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City.
The team rebounded with three wins before Christmas and secured a 5-1 triumph over Real Betis last Sunday.
“In my view, within the dressing room, we are all supporting the coach,” Bellingham said. “We need to stand united during such times. Looking at the bigger picture, we are heading into a [Supercopa] semifinal, sitting second in the league just four points behind the leaders, and ranked among the top eight in the Champions League.”
“It’s certainly not a disaster. At Real Madrid, things tend to be blown out of proportion during tough phases, but that’s part of the allure. We hope for a victory tomorrow, but if the outcome doesn’t go in our favor, decisions about the coach are beyond my control.”
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Bellingham and coach Alonso have both rallied behind Vinícius, who has not scored in Madrid’s last 15 matches.
“Vini is under significant pressure both as a player and as an individual,” Bellingham noted. “At times, his on-field actions stem from sheer emotion. It’s essential to remember that he’s a human being, and that can intensify the pressure during periods of goal drought.”
“I see a dynamic player who has the ability to create chances from nothing. His goal tally doesn’t reflect his contributions… We’re all aware that when he performs at his best, our team thrives, and he becomes a formidable opponent.”
“There’s still a lot of the season left and many crucial matches ahead,” Alonso commented. “Vini will play an integral role. Tomorrow, we need him at his best, fully engaged with the team. When he’s enjoying himself on the pitch, he unlocks defenses.”
Alonso also defended his management of star forward Kylian Mbappé, who will miss the Supercopa due to a knee sprain after having featured three times in a week before Christmas.
“Decisions depend on the situation at hand,” Alonso explained. “We aim to have [Mbappé] back on the field as soon as possible. We have pushed for that, but this game has come too soon.”