Jude Bellingham fitness fears with England star feeling ‘absolutely dead’ after relentless Real Madrid schedule
JUDE BELLINGHAM revealed he was completely shattered against Slovenia – amid fears the England talisman is suffering from burnout.
The Real Madrid superstar, 20, felt “absolutely dead” in the final group game in Cologne on Tuesday, with support from the stands getting him through.
It was his 50th appearance of a gruelling campaign which has taken its toll in his last two tired performances against Denmark as well as the Slovenians.
Speaking about the fans driving him on when on the FA’s Lions’ Den show, Bellingham said: “You definitely draw on them for energy towards the end of games.
“I felt like in the last game, I was absolutely dead.
“But you hear them singing, hear them chanting and you can play at a level that’s not our best, it’s normal, it can happen.
“But I think the important thing is, when you’re wearing this badge and you’re representing those fans, is that you don’t give up and I think they’re a constant reminder of that.”
Bellingham’s tiredness revelation comes amid worries of players being flogged to breaking point by a relentless schedule.
Fifa’s expanded, month-long Club World Cup next summer – in which Bellingham’s Real are one of 12 sides competing along with Chelsea and Manchester City – has prompted a backlash.
The PFA earlier this month joined a legal challenge against the world football governing body over their “overloaded and unworkable” calendar.
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Bellingham has certainly looked tired during these Euros, even fading in the second half of the 1-0 opening win over Serbia after an outstanding first 45.
He has also cut a frustrated figure at times, with former skipper Wayne Rooney noting how he kept “throwing his arms up” against Slovenia.
England’s performances, both as a team and individually, have drawn widespread criticism from pundits and social media throughout this tournament.
Boss Gareth Southgate also had three beer cups chucked at him as he went to applaud supporters at full-time in Cologne on Tuesday.
Yet Bellingham is in no doubt that the support from those actually attending the games can drive on the players in Germany.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund man added: “.I know there’s a lot of negativity outside the stadium and the camp but I always feel that when we get into the stadium, it’s so different.
“It’s important that as team-mates and as a team, we remember that the ones in the stadium are the ones that are going to give us the energy.
“So don’t worry about the ones that aren’t there and we’ve obviously got to keep using that energy.
“Using that feeling that we get from them, to be successful in this tournament.”