Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham says he has regained his smile after “feeling a bit like the scapegoat” for England’s failure to win Euro 2024 in the summer.
Bellingham scored England’s first goal of the tournament in a 1-0 win against Serbia, before scoring a 95th-minute equalizer against Slovakia to save Gareth Southgate’s side from elimination in the last 16.
However, the midfielder was the target of what he described as a “bunch” of critics as England struggled through the tournament.
“I lost my smile a lot playing for England after the Euros because I felt like I was a bit mistreated compared to what I contributed,” Bellingham said before Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Liverpool.
“[The] the smile is back 1732647869.
“I think it was a little hard for me. I felt a little bit like the scapegoat. Maybe I felt a little sorry for myself.
“I felt like I contributed some pretty big moments, but it felt like the whole world was collapsing on me, especially in the three days after the final. It wasn’t a nice feeling.”
Bellingham addressed reports that he refused to speak to the media during the tournament.
“That was reported in a way that made it seem like I think I’m above that, but it’s not that at all,” he said.
“I had some personal things: journalists had gone to see members of my family while I was at the tournament, my grandparents.
“I don’t think it’s fair, it crosses the line of respect. That’s where I took it a bit personally and decided I would just focus on football and let that do the talking, rather than talking in the press to people who apparently don’t respect me.” .
“My family comes first: my grandmother didn’t want to leave the house all summer.
“Maybe I should have communicated it so people understood my situation, but that was a little more personal for me and that’s why I decided to keep my mouth shut.”
