Midfielder has been used in a variety of positions this season and believes he gets “moved around” when the team aren’t playing well
Jude Bellingham feels his ability to play multiple roles for Real Madrid can sometimes work against him, saying he has become a “victim” of his own versatility.
The midfielder has been used in a variety of positions at Madrid, particularly this season under Xabi Alonso and then Alvaro Arbeloa. Bellingham said his role has had to be adjusted and he now plays deeper compared to previous seasons.
“There’s no doubt there’s been a change,” Bellingham said on Tuesday. “In the first year, we played with a kind of three-base midfield. This season with Xabi and with Arbeloa, I’ve been asked to play a little bit deeper.
“One of my qualities is that I can play in different positions and do different things to a good level and I think sometimes maybe I’m a little bit of a victim to that, in terms of having to be moved around if things aren’t going well. But it’s definitely a change, it’s one that I’ve had to kind of get used to.”
Bellingham has produced six goals and four assists in 32 appearances this season, a drop from his output in his first two campaigns in Spain, where he recorded 23 goals and 13 assists, followed by 15 goals and 15 assists.
“When I’m scoring goals, everyone wants me to be more involved in the build-up and when I’m not scoring, everyone wants the opposite,” Bellingham said. “It’s important for me to find balance, and understand whatever role the manager wants me to do.”
Madrid head into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich trailing 2-1 from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Domestically, the title is all but concluded as Arbeloa’s side are nine points behind leaders Barcelona after their 1-1 draw with Girona.
Bellingham also addressed questions over how he fits alongside Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, amid suggestions the trio have struggled to find the right connection on the pitch.
“It’s difficult because there have been many matches where we’ve worked very well together,” Bellingham said. “The two of them tend to play more on the left and I have to play more in the centre, which can make it hard to find the right balance and make the most of the quality we have.
“We have to trust in the quality we have and focus on the positives. When things click, as we hope they will [against Bayern], we can win matches with this balanced line-up.”
