Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has provided an insight into precisely why star midfielder Jude Bellingham was shown a red card on the back of his side’s clash with Valencia.
The name of England international Bellingham has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines in Spain late on Saturday night.
This comes after the 20-year-old was at the centre of one of the most memorable moments of the season to date.
Unfortunately for Bellingham himself, however, as much came at his expense.
With Real locked at two goals apiece in a La Liga meeting with Valencia, Los Blancos’ top scorer appeared to have secured all three points for his side, with the very last kick of the game.
This came owing to a fine header into the far corner of the Los Che net, a full eight minutes into injury time.
As Bellingham wheeled away in celebration, however, the realisation soon set in that his winner, in fact, would not stand.
This came after referee Jesús Gil Manzano blew the full-time whistle a matter of milliseconds before the ball connected with the head of the former Borussia Dortmund man.
In turn, it came as little surprise when Bellingham was quick to make his frustration with the man in charge at the Mestalla known.
Evidently of the opinion that the midfielder’s protests went too far, however, Gil Manzano subsequently brandished a red card in Bellingham’s direction.
With his engine room star, fresh off a return from injury, now in line for an incoming suspension, the subject of precisely what Bellingham had done to warrant a sending off was therefore put to Carlo Ancelotti in his post-match press conference.
And Real Madrid’s boss did not hesitate in providing a word-for-word breakdown, confirming that:
“Bellingham did not insult the referee, he said in English ‘it’s a fucking goal’ – which is what we all thought.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
About Author
