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BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Arsenal second leg 'a night made for Real Madrid'
Jude Bellingham believes the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal on Wednesday is "a night made for Real Madrid".The reigning European champions are aiming to overturn a 3-0 deficit from last week's first leg in which they were well beaten at Emirates Madrid midfielder Bellingham is confident his side can turn the tie around at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (20:00 BST) and add another chapter to the club's illustrious European history."I've heard it a million times since last week, I've seen a million videos - it's really motivating stuff," the England international told a media conference on Tuesday."It's a night that's made for Real Madrid."A night that would go down in history but also something that people are familiar with around this part of this world. Hopefully we can add another special night." Real Madrid have lost by three or more goals in the first leg of a European knockout tie on five previous only time they came from behind to progress was in the 1975-76 European Cup, when they recovered from a 4-1 defeat by Derby County in the last 16 to win 5-1 at home and go through 6-5 on have never achieved a comeback of this scale in the Champions League era - but Bellingham believes they can rise to the challenge at home."There's not a lot you can do for Real Madrid in the Champions League that hasn't already been done," the 21-year-old said. "Tomorrow is an opportunity for us to do something for the first time, so that's really important to us."Bellingham's England team-mate Declan Rice was the Arsenal hero last Tuesday, scoring two of Arsenal's goals with brilliant had never scored a free-kick in a professional match, and Bellingham said he was taken aback."The free-kicks were surprising," he said. "I knew Declan could take set-pieces well, corners and stuff, but I'd never seen him do that. Fair play to him." Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 BST on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
I've told Fernandes he is going nowhere
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he has told Bruno Fernandes he will not allow him to leave this captain Fernandes - who signed a contract extension until 2027 last August - has been United's star player this the weekend reports emerged linking the 30-year-old with a move to Real Madrid."No, it's not going to happen," said Amorim, when asked about the rumours in his news conference before Tuesday's Premier League trip to Nottingham asked how he could be so certain, the former Sporting coach added: "He's not going anywhere because I've already told him."There was the familiar spark in Amorim's eyes as he delivered the message, suggesting he was having a bit of has scored 16 times in all competitions this season while no other United player has reached double the final week before the most recent international break, Fernandes scored five goals, including a hat-trick in the Europa League last-16 victory over Real Mohammed Salah (54) and Erling Haaland (33) have more than Fernandes' combination of 31 goals and assists in the Premier League this have struggled in the league and are in 13th position before they face third-placed Nottingham Forest at the City ground. 'This is the kind of player we want' Amorim and predecessor Erik ten Hag, have repeatedly backed Fernandes, despite external criticism from former United captain Roy Keane in particular."I want Bruno here because maybe in the lowest moments of our season he…," said Amorim, before tailing off and switching his answer to strike a more positive note."We want to win the Premier League again so we want the best players to continue with us. He's 30 but he's still so young because he plays 55 games every season and between assists and goals he's there for 30 at least."We are in control of the situation," said Amorim. "But I feel he is really happy here because he understands what we want to do."I he is also a supporter of Manchester United so he really feels it."Sometimes the frustration you see, that everybody sees and maybe says is not a good thing in a captain is a sign he wants this so bad. This is the kind of player we want."
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Would Real free transfer damage Alexander-Arnold's legacy?
"Trent Alexander-Arnold has said so many times that he wanted to finish his career at Liverpool but something changed this year and he picked wanting to win the Ballon d'Or rather than achievements with Liverpool."That is the view of Liverpool fan Abigail Rudkin, who believes the pursuit of individual honours may have turned Alexander-Arnold's head towards Real Madrid."I thought in that moment it changed a bit to the Trent Alexander-Arnold show - looking after himself and what he can achieve," added Rudkin. "I think he feels he can win the Ballon d'Or at Madrid."As a Liverpool fan you're just devastated... but he has won everything there is to win at Liverpool."We are all living vicariously through Trent and now [it looks like] he has decided Madrid is the new dream. That's why we're all gutted."What do you think about Alexander-Arnold looking set to leave? Do you understand it as a new challenge or would an exit in this way damage his Anfield legacy?Have your say here
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Mbappe 'flying' high at Real and now wants to 'make history'
"I want to write history with Real Madrid."Kylian Mbappe's message to the media was clear after his brilliant hat-trick destroyed Manchester City in the second leg of their 3-1 Champions League play-off French striker's goal in the 3-2 first-leg victory at Etihad Stadium may have come from a scuffed finish, but there was nothing fortunate about any of his three in the return at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday that sealed a 6-3 aggregate success over the English talent was on full display - his blistering pace, sharp movement and ruthless finishing proving too much for Pep Guardiola's side to handle and sealing the holders' place in the last long ago, the France captain had come under heavy scrutiny from Real fans and pundits after scoring just three times in 11 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side. It followed the 26-year-old's acrimonious exit from Paris St-Germain to join the Spanish giants on a free transfer last June when his contract he has now scored 27 goals in all competitions so far this season after a 'slow start' to life in Madrid. It's safe to say he is no longer adapting, but thriving."The adaptation period for me has ended and now I have to show my quality," said Mbappe. "I want to play well here, I want to make a mark on the season."We wanted to win. We wanted to qualify for the next round. For us it was only logical that Real reached the next round of the Champions League."Mbappe is now starting to look more like the feared frontman who scored 256 goals in 308 appearances during six years at the Real faithful have clearly embraced him too as he received a standing ovation when he was taken off in the 78th minute after his treble."What an ovation it is for Mbappe," said BBC Radio 5 Live's chief football correspondent John Murray."What a player. What a man. What an individual. Just listen to how they love him here in Madrid." 'Incredible what Mbappe has done' - Bellingham Mbappe struggled to adapt to the central striker role entrusted in him by Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr preferred in his favourite left-wing role."If you go back to the first Clasico of the season at Bernabeu, it was so big for him," European football expert James Horncastle told BBC Match of the Day."Madrid lost 4-0, Mbappe didn't score and he was caught offside eight times. That was unthinkable for him." His poor form in Spain even cost him a place in the France squad as Didier Deschamps omitted the national team captain from four Nations League fixtures in October and November last since the turn of the new year, he has scored seven goals in six La Liga matches while also keeping Real alive in Europe after a shaky start to their campaign. "I don't think anyone has ever doubted his talents, there was just going to be an adaptation period for him joining this club," said former England defender Joleon Lescott on TNT added: "There were one or two questions as to whether he would fit in here. That now seems preposterous."It is no wonder he is already drawing comparisons with another Real legend - one Cristiano fact, numbers suggest he is already emulating the Portugal superstar, who won four Champions League crowns and two La Liga titles during a trophy-laden stay seven goals in this season's Champions League has him level with Ronaldo (2009-10) and Spanish striker Justo Tejada (1961-62) for most goals scored by a Real player in Europe's premier club competition during their debut campaign."It is incredible what he has done in his career," team-mate Jude Bellingham told TNT Sports."I know he had a slow start here and took time getting used to life here. Now he is flying and it's so good to see."With more performances like Wednesday, it will only be a matter of time before he cements his status as the face, and hero, of this Real side."Tonight, he definitely announced himself with this club and the fans," added former Manchester City and England defender Lescott."If they go on to win it, this will be the moment they recognise Mbappe is their guy and the main man." Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'No team wants to face us'
Manuel Akanji is confident Manchester City "can beat every team in Europe" after progressing to the Champions League play-off will find out on Friday whether their next opponent will be either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid."I'm happy that we made it to the play-offs," Akanji said. "Obviously, we wish we would have made it to the top eight but we couldn't change it anymore. All we had to do was win."Obviously Real Madrid and Bayern Munich aren't the teams you want to face but, whoever it is, we are looking forward to the challenge and I think we can beat every team in Europe."Whoever comes, we are ready for the challenge. Even though we didn't play as good as we used to do, I think no team wants to face us."We have Arsenal next and have to recover really well now. It's an important game, away - it won't be easy. We have to be ready for the challenge."
