Jude Bellingham admits Real Madrid are going to need to do “something crazy” to turn their Champions League tie against Arsenal around at the Bernabeu next week, but has warned: “If there is only place where crazy things can happen, it’s our house.”
Declan Rice scored two sensational free-kicks as Arsenal thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 win in the first leg of their quarter-final at Emirates Stadium.
Bellingham says Real Madrid “are lucky” to only be three goals down after a nightmare night for the 15-time European kings in north London.
The England midfielder admits Carlo Ancelotti’s side will need to do “something unbelievably special” in the return leg in Spain.
But Real Madrid have a formidable history in the Champions League and have produced famous second-leg comebacks against Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City at home in recent years.
“We were nowhere near it,” said Bellingham. “That’s the fact, and Arsenal were really good.
“I know that two of their goals were free-kicks and really good individual pieces of delivery, but to be honest they could have had way more. We are lucky to get away with three.
“But there is a second leg, that’s the thing we are kind of holding onto. We are going to need something unbelievably special, something crazy really. But if there is only place where crazy things can happen, it’s our house. You never know, you never know.
“Obviously the performance was nowhere near good enough, but I can’t come out after a game and say we are going to give up.
“That’s not in the nature of the club, it’s not in the mentality that they instil in you at this club. 90 more minutes at home to pull something out the bag.”
Bellingham’s Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric remains convinced they an still salvage the tie.
“[We have to] expect we can turn this around because if someone can do it, it’s Real Madrid,” he said. “We believe in ourself with our fans, but it is not going to be easy.
“Arsenal showed today they have great quality. We knew they were good, they have a lot of quality and that’s what they showed today.
“But we know that we need to do much better than we did. I am sure we will do that at the Bernabeu, if this will be enough? We will see.”
