Bellingham scores as Real Madrid beat Mlaga 4-0 with Mourinho giving him more freedom

Jude Bellingham scored as Real Madrid defeated Mlaga 4-0 at the Bernabu in LaLiga on Sunday, helping the club maintain their perfect start to the LaLiga season. The England midfielder has two goals and two assists in three games under Jose Mourinho.

Bellingham has flourished in a more flexible role under Jose Mourinho, telling Real Madrid TV: “Now I’m a bit more free, with the freedom to move further up, and drop deep if we need it.” “I’m enjoying it a lot. That’s why I’m playing well.” Mourinho added: “He’s very demanding with himself, and with the rest,” Mourinho said. “I’ve told him that with my way of seeing football, I don’t want to see him playing as a second left-back.” He also pointed to Bellingham’s tendency to drop into deeper areas during his side’s Champions League victory over Madrid with Benfica, insisting the midfielder now understands what is expected of him.

Bellingham opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a low finish from the right and then played a part in Madrid’s second when his goalbound header proved too difficult for the Mlaga defence to keep out. Real Madrid completed a 4-0 victory, and Bellingham received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 87th minute. “It’s very special, always,” Bellingham said. “It’s an honour to play for this club, at this stadium. The ovation was really nice.”

Earlier in the campaign Bellingham scored in Madrid’s opening 2-1 win at Espanyol and created two goals in the 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad, appearances that have seen him operating across different areas of the pitch. His latest display continued a strong start to life under Mourinho and underscored his growing comfort in varying positions.

Mourinho has encouraged greater understanding between Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vincius Junior by giving the trio freedom to combine, and said: “Very good players want to play together,” Mourinho said. “All I see is that they’re all really good.” Madrid’s depth was on show as Mourinho made five changes to his starting XI, bringing in Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rdiger, Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Daz, with Bellingham noting: “We have a really strong squad, a great team, with quality everywhere.”

Real Madrid will next travel to face Real Betis in LaLiga on September 4 at La Cartuja in Seville, before opening their Champions League campaign at home against Inter Milan on September 8.