CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Jude Bellingham praised Xabi Alonso’s “wonderful concepts” after Actual Madrid overcame an early purple card to beat Pachuca 3-1 within the Membership World Cup on Sunday, whereas confirming that he’ll endure shoulder surgical procedure when the event is over.
The win was Alonso’s first since taking up at Madrid earlier than the Membership World Cup after his group drew 1-1 with Al Hilal in its opener.
Madrid defender Raúl Asencio was despatched off within the seventh minute at Financial institution of America Stadium for fouling Pachuca ahead Salomón Rondón.
Ten-man Madrid quickly responded with objectives from Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler, earlier than Federico Valverde added a 3rd, and Elias Montiel responded for Pachuca with the one shot that received previous Thibaut Courtois, who made 10 saves
“It was robust after Asencio was despatched off,” Bellingham mentioned in his post-match information convention, after being chosen as the sport’s MVP. “He is a younger defender, it occurs, there is no hurt in that. It was a take a look at of our character, and a take a look at of our management.
“The supervisor [Alonso] determined to alter form, and all of us took that duty effectively. We needed to climate the storm, [Pachuca] had a whole lot of photographs. Thibaut was incredible. It is a good win, nonetheless not good, however the coaches’ concepts are wonderful, and we need to hold going.”
Courtois was extra essential of Asencio, who additionally gave away a penalty in Madrid’s opening recreation in opposition to Al Hilal.
“Two video games, and the identical mistake,” Courtois mentioned. “We’ve got to be extra clever.”
Midfielder Bellingham — who has struggled with a shoulder harm since November 2023, carrying protecting strapping — confirmed that he’ll endure surgical procedure when Madrid’s participation within the event is over.
“It is alright now, I’ve received to the purpose the place the ache is not so dangerous,” Bellingham mentioned. “I’ve received surgical procedure scheduled for a couple of days after the event, after the ultimate. I am completely satisfied about that.
“It has been a very long time coming. I’ve come to the tip of my endurance with the brace. The medical doctors and employees have been nice, however I am on the level now the place I am able to have a free shoulder.”
The end result leaves Madrid on 4 factors in Group H, and in a robust place to progress to the spherical of 16 forward of Thursday’s recreation with Salzburg.
Moments earlier than the ultimate whistle in Charlotte, referee Ramon Abatti signalled that FIFA’s anti-racism protocol had been initiated after a conflict between Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger and Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral.
“The FIFA protocol was activated. We’ll discover out what occurred,” Alonso mentioned in his post-match information convention. “Rudiger mentioned [that he’d been insulted] and we consider him. There isn’t any tolerance for it, it should not occur.
“[FIFA] are investigating it.”
Talking within the blended zone, Cabral denied having used racist language.
“There was nothing racist. I known as him ‘chickens–t’ as we are saying in Argentina, that is it,” he mentioned.
Pachuca coach Jaime Lozano mentioned he was unaware of the accusation.
“I’ve simply came upon now,” Lozano mentioned. “We’ve not spoken about it. What I can say is that we have by no means had something like that with Cabral.”
