Jude Bellingham: The Second Leg Is A Night Created For Real Madrid

JAKARTA - Jude Bellingham said that the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal on Thursday, April 17, 2025, early morning WIB, was the night created for Real Madrid.

He agrees his team can make a comeback that will be recorded in history at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid are best known for their comebacks in the Champions League - including on their way to the 2022 final, when they eliminated Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester City in Bernabeu - but never reversed the 0-3 deficit in the first leg.

The European champions performed poorly last week at the Emirates Stadium, slumped to a three-goal concede in 17 minutes during the second half.

However, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, local time, Bellingham said Los Blancos were confident they would make another comeback.

"I've heard about it millions of times since last week. It's a night created for Real Madrid, a night that will be recorded in history. The atmosphere is strange."

"Losing 0-3 is one of the worst results we can imagine in an away game. For some reason everyone thinks we will definitely rise. It's a nice feeling," Bellingham said.

Bellingham joined Real Madrid in 2023, winning the Champions League and La Liga twice in his debut season.

He had been involved in some impressive comebacks, including last year's semifinals when forward Joselu scored twice at the end of the game in two minutes at Bernabeu to get rid of Bayern Munich.

"This is something you want to follow, to add to the history of this club. There's not much you can do at this club that hasn't been done before. Tomorrow we want to do something for the first time."

"What makes us confident is the quality we have, the history of the club, the aura of Bernabeu."

"I think we--although playing as bad as possible (in the first leg)--still have chances, moments. It feels like if we level up and focus more, we can win (in the second leg match)," Bellingham said, when asked about the prospect of a comeback against Arsenal.

Real Madrid have faced criticism for their performances in recent weeks, having three games without a win - a 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, a 1-2 loss to Valencia, and a loss to Arsenal - before a narrow 1-0 win at Alaves on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

"We've clearly shown in some games this year that we're capable of doing something special."

"I have to be confident with the team and it has nothing to do with history. It has to do with the players I see practicing every day," Bellingham said.

Meanwhile, coach Carlo Ancelotti said he didn't think the result of the second leg against Arsenal would determine his future as manager--in the midst of speculation that the Italian coach could leave this summer if Madrid fail to win the main trophy.

He then diverted the conversation by saying his troops were very ready for a comeback, especially the motivated Kylian Mbappe striker after his red card against Alaves.

"He was injured and disappointed. He trained well yesterday. We have to score. This season he scored a lot of goals. We need more goals than before tomorrow," said Ancelotti.