Kylian Mbappe was the star man for Real Madrid in their 3-1 UEFA Champions League play-off win over Manchester City and earned high praise from team-mate Jude Bellingham. The England international also hailed captain Federico Valverde and spoke of his positional role within Carlo Ancelotti’s system. Real Madrid will play either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
Jude Bellingham heaped praise on hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe and captain Federico Valverde after Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-1 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off.
Los Blancos advanced to the last 16 with a 6-3 aggregate victory, and the tie was put to bed by the hour mark after a clinical display from Mbappe.
Bellingham hailed the Frenchman, as well as the more unheralded Valverde, and highlighted Real Madrid’s “unpredictable” nature.
“It’s brilliant – you go into games knowing that he’s going to affect games if you give him the ball,” Bellingham told TNT Sports when asked about Mbappe.
“Our job behind is to try to put the front three in the best positions possible. When Kylian gets the ball in areas where he likes to get the ball, he’s going to be dangerous.
“You see the goals today – right foot, left foot – and it’s incredible what he’s done in his career. He had a slow start and he was getting used to life here, but now he’s flying and it’s a pleasure to watch.”
On Valverde, who filled in at right-back, he said: “So important – he goes under the radar massively. Tonight he played at right-back and looked like he’s never played anywhere else.
“He’s just unbelievable and a great team-mate. Coming into that captain’s role as well in such a big game, he just embraces everything so well. He’s a pleasure to play with.”
Bellingham has operated both as a midfielder and an attacker since joining Real Madrid in 2023, and he acknowledged the importance of positional adaptability under Carlo Ancelotti.
“It takes a lot of sacrifice,” he said. “You always want to play in the position you’ve known and suits you the best.
“Rolling out to left midfield, it takes time to learn. Especially when you see your full-backs coming inside, wingers dropping deep.
“You have to study the opposition you’re playing against. Rodrygo goes out onto the right; it’s not always his favourite position, but no one complains. We try to get on with it and work as a group.
“What gives us our major strength is our freedom with the ball – we’re so unpredictable to play against because of the movement and fluidity.”
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Bellingham also commented on Erling Haaland’s absence, with City’s top striker left on the bench after sustaining an injury last weekend.
“It’s difficult – you always want to play teams at their best and I hope he’s not too bad,” said the England international.
“He’s a good mate of mine. You play what you’re up against and we managed it well today.
“When their key players don’t play, they still have other players who can step in and cause damage. We nullified that well.”
Real Madrid could now face either La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid or Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
On the possibility of a Madrid derby, Bellingham said: “You’re always going to play against the best teams at this point. That would be something – here, away, it would be two special games.
“We’ll see what happens. If we play like we did tonight we’ll have a good chance.”
Wow Mbappe go!