'Something unprecedented happened' - Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti reacts to Jude Bellingham's non-winner
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Updated 03/03/2024 at 10:29 GMT
Jude Bellingham thought he had secured all three points for Real Madrid with a stoppage-time winner against Valencia, only to see his goal chalked off after a controversial refereeing intervention. To compound matters, the England midfielder was then sent from the field for his protestations. After the match, boss Carlo Ancelotti defended Bellingham's conduct, criticising the referee's decision.
Jude Bellingham se lamenta en Mestalla | Valencia-Real Madrid - Jornada 27.
Image credit: Getty Images
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham seemed to have completed a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down against Valencia on Saturday evening, scoring what appeared to be a stoppage-time winner, but the goal was sensationally chalked off by referee Jesus Gil Manzano because time had run out.
First-half goals from Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchuk had put the home side into an imperious position, but Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior pulled a goal back for the visitors just before the half-time whistle.
Vinicius struck again with 14 minutes to play, leaving his mark on a fixture in which he was racially abused last season.
With the match still level in the 99th minute, attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz floated in a cross from the right flank and Bellingham headed down beyond goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The ball bounced over the line to spark celebrations from Madrid's players but they were cut short when referee Manzano indicated that he had already blown the full-time whistle.
The whistle can be clearly heard on the telecast, unusually being blown as the cross from Diaz comes in.
A furious Bellingham turned on Manzano, earning a red card by shouting "it's a f****** goal", as noted in the official report.
A minimum of seven minutes of added time had been indicated at the 90th minute, and stoppage time also featured a lengthy VAR review of a penalty call that was eventually overturned.
After the match, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his star midfielder and clearly laid out his opinion that the referee had been in the wrong.
He said: "There isn't much to say. Something unprecedented happened. We had possession. The play should stop when Valencia have the ball. It's unprecedented. It's never happened to me."
Turning to Bellingham, Ancelotti was unequivocal.
He said: "We were annoyed with Bellingham's red card. He didn't say any insults. He said in English 'it's a f****** goal,' but he was just saying what we were all thinking ... [The referee] allowed play to continue. I think he made a mistake. [Bellingham] was clear in what he said. He was quite vehement [in his reaction] but that's normal, after what happened. It wasn't an insult, not at all."
Despite the controversial result, Madrid sit seven points clear of Girona - a gap that could become four when the second placed side face Mallorca on Sunday - and nine ahead of Barcelona.
Ancelotti made sure to note that, too.
He finished his point by saying: "We'll look at the table and we'll sleep well."
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