Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday that midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni are back from injury as Los Blancos begin the defense of their Champions League trophy.
The record 15-time winners and current title holders face German side Stuttgart on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu and are boosted by the return of England international Bellingham and France’s Tchouaméni.
Defender Eder Militao did not train on Monday, but Ancelotti said the Brazilian would also be ready for the clash.
“Bellingham is good, just as Tchouaméni is good, and Militao too for tomorrow, who didn’t train today because he needed one more day of recovery,” said Ancelotti.
“Two important players are back, but we also have the bad luck to have lost another important player (Brahim Diaz),” he added.
Bellingham, who began the season in a deeper midfield role than in the previous campaign, suffered a calf injury in August ,which forced him out of four La Liga matches.
Dani Carvajal highlighted the importance of Bellingham’s return, praising his contributions both on and off the field, and expressed the team’s reliance on him moving forward.
The midfielder was crucial last season on the way to the Wembley final, where Madrid beat his former side Borussia Dortmund.
Ancelotti said his team was just as hungry to win the competition this year.
Ancelotti emphasized Real Madrid’s continued passion for the Champions League and their determination to compete until the end, highlighting the club’s longstanding success in the tournament.
With AFP
