Jude Bellingham has warned Arsenal that Real Madrid are prepared to launch yet another stunning Champions League comeback, saying Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg is a “night that is made for” the Spanish giants.
The European champions have a long history of dramatic comebacks, known as “remontada” in Spain, and are looking to add another one to their hall of fame as they seek to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all suffered brutal Champions League defeats at the Santiago Bernabéu in recent seasons, and Bellingham wants his team to create yet another “special night” in European competition.
“Remontada… I have heard it about a million times this week,” said the England midfielder. “I have seen a million videos online. It’s really motivating stuff. It’s a night that’s made for Real Madrid, a night that people are familiar with in this part of the world. Hopefully we can add another special night.
“It was one of the worst [first leg] results we could possibly imagine, and for some reason everyone thinks it’s nailed-on that we will come back. It’s a nice feeling, I have to say.
“It means there’s a lot of trust in the talent. It means that you’re at a club that’s like no other, the best in the world, and that’s what it represents and signifies to me. I think there’s an expectation of Real Madrid that when we get in these holes we can come back. In England it’s not as common but it does happen. The club have done it so many times, so the expectations are huge.”
Arsenal shocked Madrid with their exceptional first-leg performance in north London, when Declan Rice struck two free-kicks for Mikel Arteta’s team. Bellingham admitted he was surprised at the quality of Rice’s goals, saying of his international team-mate: “I knew Declan could take set pieces well, corners and stuff, but I’d never seen him do that. Fair play to him.”
There have been reports in Spain that tensions within the Madrid camp have boiled over in recent days, with Bellingham alleged to have clashed with defender Antonio Rudiger in training.
Asked on Tuesday about those reports, Bellingham said: “It’s football, it’s normal on the pitch that emotions get high. You communicate with team-mates louder than you would communicate with your mum and dad.
“For every negative interaction you see, there’s 20 positive interactions. That will get lost in the media, which is fine, as long as the team respects each other to have those honest conversations.”
Madrid have never overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit in the Champions League era, having tried and failed to do so on three occasions.
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