Jude Bellingham has spoken candidly about Real Madrid’s need to adapt to the “huge” loss of an “irreplaceable” player after their 3-1 UEFA Champions League win over Stuttgart.
The reigning champions began their 2024/25 campaign with a win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, with Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Endrick earning three points against last season’s Bundesliga runners-up.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s men did not have the upper hand. Stuttgart dominated the game in the early stages and only good management from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and a poor pass from Enzo Millot prevented the Germans from opening the scoring.
Even after going behind a minute into the second half, Stuttgart continued to play positively and fully deserved their equaliser through Deniz Undav.
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Rudiger’s late header came from a corner by substitute Luka Modric, before Endrick struck on the counter-attack with the last kick of the game to inflict an unfairly one-sided scoreline on Stuttgart.
Jude Bellingham admits Real Madrid star is a ‘huge loss’
Bellingham, who made his return from injury for the game, felt part of Real’s problem was the lack of control they had in midfield when Toni Kroos was the heart of the team.
Kroos retired after Euro 2024 and Madrid have not signed an obvious replacement – not that Bellingham thinks that would have been an easy task.
“They’re a very good team. We gave away too many chances,” he admitted to TNT Sports in the UK. “I think we pressed well at times but as soon as they got past the initial pressure line they seemed to cause us problems.
“We’re probably waiting for it to happen, but we’ve shown that we can win even when we’re not at our best. We’re trying to take the positives and work with the negatives.
“It’s a team that has changed its face. We’ve changed some elements. The loss of Toni is huge in terms of rhythm and way of playing. He’s a really special player. He’s irreplaceable. We have to find other ways to defend ourselves.”
Real Madrid’s second match in the new phase of the Champions League will take place at the home ground of French team Lille on October 2.
