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Learn more. Rio Ferdinand jokingly fired back at Laura Woods for going ‘too far’ with a comment on Jude Bellingham following Real Madrid’s dramatic victory over Manchester City.
The England midfielder was on top form as Los Blancos edged a penalty shoot-out to book a Champions League semi-final meeting with Bayern Munich. Antonio Rudiger slotted the decisive spot-kick to put Real Madrid into the last four and spark wild scenes in one small corner of the Etihad Stadium.
Bellingham jumped into the away end to celebrate with the travelling fans before speaking with Woods, Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott in his post-match interview on TNT Sports. Once the interview had finished, Bellingham shook hands with all three presenters before walking down the tunnel to reunite with his Real Madrid team-mates.
Woods was clearly impressed with how Bellingham spoke and even suggested that she would book him in as a pundit, prompting Ferdinand to respond: “That’s a bit too much, that’s too far!” Bellingham was on the receiving end of three defeats to City during his time at Borussia Dortmund but was clearly delighted to have finally beaten Pep Guardiola’s side in his first season at Real Madrid.
“It’s relief,” he said. “You put so much into the game.
I’ve played against City before and they snatch it away from you. I was pretty much dead on my feet at the end.
It’s so difficult.” “They are continuously probing with the ball and move you around.
Most teams would fall apart when City get on top of you but we stood up really well. I could never dream of how it started [his time at Real].
Just the feeling you get playing for the club, getting to put the badge on your chest. Long may it continue.
Bellingham reserved special praise for Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, adding: “Our biggest strength is he finds a way to let a lot of boys play with freedom. We’re so off the cuff.
As a man he fills you with calmness and confidence. I caught him yawning and he said to go out and excite him.
“You have to see it as a responsibility not a pressure if you want to play for a team like Real Madrid. Today it came down to mentality.
It’s beautiful. My brother is here today, the first time he’s seen me play for Madrid.”