LIVERPOOL, NOV 28 – Jude Bellingham said Real Madrid were beaten by the best team in Europe at the moment after losing 2-0 to Liverpool.
He also questioned the attitude of his team members after their third defeat in five Champions League games.
The 15-time winners are 24th in the 36-team table with three games remaining in the league phase and face the risk of failing to qualify for the knockout stage.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are top with a maximum 15 points from their five matches and are also eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
“From the first minute they controlled the game,” Bellingham told TNT Sports . “I just thought they were more prepared than us, to be honest, it was very disappointing to admit.
“It was a bad result to lose against the best team in Europe. It’s not a shame to come here and lose, but we’re disappointed with our performance.
“The important thing is that we must fix it. We have three games left in the group and it is important that we try to win them all to try to have a chance in the standings.”
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for Liverpool early in the second half after Thibaut Courtois denied several previous attempts.
Madrid had a chance to equalize but Kylian Mbappe’s penalty kick was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Mohamed Salah also shot wide from the penalty spot for Liverpool, before Cody Gakpo’s header sealed the three points.
“He’s a great player but the pressure he’s under because of his greatness is huge,” Bellingham added of Mbappe, who has failed to shine since his sensational move to the Spanish capital.
“Penalties are not the reason we lost. As a collective, we weren’t good enough that night. They played better than us and it was as simple as that,” added Bellingham
Meanwhile, Slot said, “you know how special it is to play against a club that has won the Champions League many times, is the defending champion and has also hurt Liverpool many times.”
Kelleher’s heroics to deny Mbappe a penalty added to his excellent form since replacing the injured Alisson Becker.
“In most situations you’d think it would probably go in (Mbappe and Salah’s penalty) because they have such a great record but both missed so they showed they’re human,” added Slott, who has won 17 of his first 19 games . since replacing Jurgen Klopp.
“In the situation where Kelleher deflected Mbappe’s attempt, it was more special for us. There is no situation where he has not excelled for us,” added Slot. – AFP
