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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has hailed a resurgent Jude Bellingham for leading the the team by example, not just with his quality but by showing “a lot of commitment.”
The England attacking midfielder has scored in six of his last seven appearances for Madrid, including in the midweek 3-2 win at Atalanta in the Champions League.
“I’m not sure he is the leader [on the pitch] but he is a very important player,” Ancelotti said on Friday. “The leader is chosen by the teammates in terms of attitude that a player has, for the example he can give. He is a very important player in that respect.
“Besides the quality he has, he shows a lot of commitment to the team which is something that the squad values more in a leader.”
Ancelotti also praised Vinícius Júnior ahead of Saturday’s league game at Rayo Vallecano.
The Brazilian forward scored one goal and set up another in the victory at Atalanta on his return from a hamstring injury.
“It speaks a lot about him,” Ancelotti said of Vinícius, who recently missed out on the Ballon d’Or award. “For us he is still the best player in the world but he is still humble which is strange for a player of this level.”
Madrid have been plagued by injuries this season and are without Kylian Mbappé for Saturday’s game.
Mbappé sustained a left thigh injury in midweek and is doubtful for next week’s Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar.
“It’s nothing very serious,” Ancelotti said of Mbappé’s injury. “He will travel [to Qatar] and if there is no risk, he will play some of the [Intercontinental] game.
“It’s difficult to say where they [injuries] come from. In the last two international breaks he has been here working with us. He has improved. Thankfully it’s a small period he will be out for. I don’t think he will lose what he has been…
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