JUDE’S THE REIGN MAN
Bayern boss Tuchel knows his side must stop King of Madrid Bellingham to have any chance of derailing Real juggernaut
We took a lot of confidence after eliminating Arsenal who have continued to win and are on top of the Premier League
JUDE BELLINGHAM will carry an “extraordinary” threat in the battle of the two European heavyweights.
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel says England superstar Bellingham is playing with the sort of self-confidence and style that makes it look as if he has worn the Real Madrid shirt his whole life.
The Champions League semifinal also pits England’s two heavyweights against each other as Bellingham will face Harry Kane at the Allianz Arena.
Tuchel was glowing in his praise for Bellingham, who has been a revelation since his move to the Bernabeu last summer which has elevated him to become one of the best players in the world.
Ex-chelsea boss Tuchel said: “Jude has had an extraordinary development. He was fantastic here in the Bundesliga and how he progressed here shows the level of personality, this is only possible with a huge personality.
“Everyone who plays for Real Madrid also plays with the pressure of the shirt, plays with the pressure to play for this club with the demands and expectations.
“He handles it like he has never done anything else before.
“He is very dangerous, very physical in his game and is an absolute key player and plays in a very offensive position.
“We are well aware of it. We try to find solutions.” Bellingham, 20, has been Real Madrid’s best success story this season as they march towards another La Liga title while Kane has been just as good for Bayern.
England captain Kane has scored 42 goals in 42 games for Bayern and has three matches left in the Bundesliga to score six goals and catch Robert Lewandowski’s record of 41 in a league season. Kane (in training, below) has been a sensation and his goal tally beats his own previous best of 41 in a season for Tottenham while he also became the first player to score or assist against every Bundesliga team in a debut season.
The two England players will take centre stage in the Champions League semi-final. This is the most played fixture in the competition as they have met 26 times, Bayern have won 11, Real Madrid 12 and they have shared three draws.
Tuchel says the semi-final feels more like a final to him and was fulsome in his praise for Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti as a manager and as a person.
“If it’s about experience, then I don’t have a chance against Carlo,” Tuchel said. “He’s a legend. What Carlo has achieved for football not only as a coach but also as a player at the highest level. When I met him, when I was a newbie in the Champions League, he was a very polite, very respectful and humble man. It’s extraordinary and you can’t value it highly enough.
“He’s now winning again, another La Liga and in the semifinal of the Champions League.
“When you play against Real Madrid, you play against the shirt, you play against the myth but our approach will be very professional. It feels like a final, but that’s normal because a semi-final always feels like a final.” Tuchel also says that beating Arsenal in the quarterfinal has given Bayern extra belief they can lift the trophy at Wembley on June 1, which would go a long way to making up for such a poor season in the Bundesliga.
He added: “It would compensate a lot, but I’m pretty sure that if we make it we would be very happy but not fully satisfied because our goal is to go to Wembley and win.
“We took a lot of confidence after eliminating Arsenal who, after the defeat here, continued to win and are on top of the Premier League.
“But we proved a point and that gave us a lot of confidence and now for the next step against Real Madrid.”
Jude handles the pressure, demands and expectations of the Real Madrid shirt like he’s never done anything else before