Jude Bellingham's team-mates reveal what it's REALLY like playing with England star after Thomas Tuchel described his behaviour as 'repulsive'

Daily Mail​

20 hours ago

Jude Bellingham has been cast into the fire once again after England boss Thomas Tuchel labelled the midfielder's on-field demeanour as 'repulsive'.
Bellingham was unable to contain his emotions after England 's 3-1 defeat by Senegal on Tuesday, chasing down the fourth official before taking a swipe at a water cooler.
Less than 24 hours on from England's 3-1 defeat, it was put to Tuchel that England could be better off without Bellingham in the starting line-up.
'I struggle to see that,' the German told talkSPORT. 'I think he brings an edge, which we welcome and which is needed if we want to achieve big things'.
After initially defending the Real Madrid 's stars action, Tuchel did go on to suggest that Bellingham's fire needs to 'channeled' and admitted it causes 'mixed emotions'.
He explained: '(But) the edge needs to be chanelled toward the opponent, towards our goal and not to intimidate team-mates, or to be over aggressive to team-mates or referees.
'He has the fire. I don't want to dim this down. He should play with this kind of fire, that's his strength.
'But I see that it can create mixed emotions. I see this with my parents, with my mum, that she sometimes cannot see the nice and well-educated and well-behaved guy that I see. If he smiles, he wins everyone.
'But sometimes you see the rage and the fire, and it comes out in a way that can be a bit repulsive, for example, for my mother, when she sits in front of the TV'.
The outburst against Senegal was not the first time that fans have seen the frustrated side to Bellingham - both for Real Madrid and for the Three Lions.
In recent years, there have been a number of outbursts from the midfielder but, as revealed by former team-mate Kade Craig, Bellingham has always been passionate on the pitch.
The ex-Birmingham City academy player insisted that, while Bellingham might 'get into' it with others and express his frustrations often, it's all part of his 'self-belief'.
Speaking to The Athletic, Craig revealed: 'We got on but at the same time, it was a love-hate relationship. Everyone else looked up to him, but because I hadn't been there from an early age, he was someone I didn't really know.
'We would get into each other during games but then we started to go on tours together as we got older, and stayed in the same room.
'Yes, he knew he was good and every top player has to have that self-confidence, but he is a humble lad too. That is probably why he has got so far: that self-belief'.
So, that's two for two. Both Craig and Tuchel insist that, while Bellingham's tantrums can be startling to some, it's an energy and attitude that breeds success on the pitch.
In July last year, reports emerged claiming that Bellingham had modelled his character on Michael Jordan, one of basketball's greatest-ever players.
According to the Independent, through England's Euro 2024 campaign, Bellingham would cut a figure 'more akin to an American sport star'.
The report said he was vocal about demanding the best of himself and his teammates – and found it hard to hide his frustrations if either didn't meet the grade.
Michael Jordan famously was ruthless on and off the court, and was known for his unbreakable mentality and willingness to share his mind, regardless of who was in the room.
Jordan would lead the Chicago Bulls to six championships between 1991 and 1998 – and a legacy that would recognise him as one of the greatest sport stars of all time.
Bellingham has, similarly, attempted to elevate his team-mates with his passionate outbursts but, at times, it has not paid off.
At the Euros last summer, Bellingham's attitude was on full show during England's stalemate with Slovenia, when an attack fizzled out and he failed to receive the ball.
Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman told Mail Sport that Bellingham yelled: 'Hey, genuinely put in a f***ing pass' and then: 'It's a bit late to control, f***ing pass.'
It appeared to be in the wake of a corner following a Harry Kane shot from range when Bellingham was in the box, though it was unclear whether his ire was targeted at the striker or Kieran Trippier for his delivery from the set-piece.
Then, after the ill-fated final against Spain, footage emerged of him appearing to shout at then-manager Gareth Southgate.
ESPN's Mark Ogden claimed that Bellingham 'lost it' and got 'frustrated' at the gaffer before lacking kicking a drinks cooler to vent his frustration.
Meanwhile, he was handed a red card after Real Madrid's Copa del Rey final defeat by Barcelona in April, where he 'approached the referee aggressively' and needed 'to be restrained by team-mates'.
In February he launched a foul-mouthed tirade against a linesman during a tense 1-1 draw with capital city rivals Atletico.
The midfielder was dumbfounded by an early decision from the assistant referee and vented his frustration next to one of the pitchside microphones at the Bernabeu.
'F*** you, man!' he was heard shouting. 'F*** off!'
In September, he was heard calling a referee a 'piece of s***' after he was booked during a 4-1 victory over Espanyol.
Meanwhile, back in 2022, reports in Germany claimed that Bellingham was at the centre of a dressing room rift at Borussia Dortmund.
According to Bild, the midfielder's 'derogatory body language' on the pitch had been annoying his team-mates.
But for now, Tuchel has opened a wound in a very public manner. It remains to be seen what impact this has on Bellingham, and a struggling England team, as the World Cup draws closer.