Jude Bellingham has dismissed rumors of a rift with his Real Madrid teammates, emphasizing that there’s no discord within the squad.

Bellingham returned from injury on Tuesday as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Stuttgart in their opening Champions League match of the season.

The midfielder had been sidelined since the season opener against Mallorca and missed all subsequent matches.

During his absence, speculation arose suggesting tensions between Bellingham and teammates Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo.

All four players started against Stuttgart, and Bellingham’s positive reaction to Rodrygo’s performance has dispelled any rumors of a falling-out.

He responded to Rodrygo’s Instagram post celebrating the win with the comment: “Only the fools forget the R.”

Bellingham also addressed the rumors involving Mbappe and Vinicius, clarifying that there are no issues among them.

“I’ve seen on social media that some are trying to create negativity between Mbappé, Rodrygo, Vinicius, and me,” Bellingham said. “The truth is, we are very good friends both on and off the pitch.”

In Tuesday’s match, Mbappe scored from close range following a cross from Rodrygo. Although Deniz Undav equalized for Stuttgart, Madrid secured the win with late goals from Antonio Rudiger and Endrick.

Bellingham praised Mbappe’s performance, stating, “It’s what he does. I’m not surprised at all. I didn’t even realize it was his debut; I just thought it was another game he’d score in.He always delivers and has adapted to Madrid seamlessly. He’s going to be a crucial player for us this season and beyond.”

Bellingham, who had been frustrated by his injury layoff, is delighted to be back on the field. “Being out for three-and-a-half weeks was tough. I’m not used to being injured, so I was a bit impatient. I wanted to come back slowly, and I’m thrilled to have started this game,” he said.

Reflecting on his performance, Bellingham added, “In the first half, I gave everything I had, I was so excited and eager to create and get into the box. In the second half, I ran out of steam a bit, so I stayed deeper. I’m getting used to being back and finding my rhythm again. I’m confident I’ll be fine for the rest of the season.”

Virgil van Dijk has made it clear that Liverpool boss Arne Slot won’t have a honeymoon period as he settles into his new role.

Despite leading Liverpool to an impressive 1-0 victory over AC Milan in their Champions League opener, Slot’s start has been anything but smooth.

This win followed a disappointing home defeat to Nottingham Forest, highlighting the unpredictability of Liverpool’s recent form.

Van Dijk described the loss to Forest as a “reality check” and stressed that maintaining high standards is crucial for success. He warned that if Liverpool’s performance levels drop again, Slot will face significant pressure.

“In football, you need to perform both today and tomorrow,” Van Dijk told reporters. “If you don’t, the pressure from outside will build up. We need to stay calm. It’s up to me, the manager, and the players to deliver on the pitch. Losing at home to Forest was a shock and a wake-up call for us. Milan was a great reaction, but now we need to focus on recovering and preparing for our next match.”

Liverpool will face Bournemouth on Saturday, a key fixture for Slot as he tries to follow in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps.

Despite a strong performance in Milan, Van Dijk reflected on the Forest game, admitting it may have seemed like Liverpool had “no plan” during that match.

“We showed the reaction we needed in Milan,” Van Dijk said. “It’s important to remember that criticisms from the outside are just noise. Our focus must be on what happens on the pitch. If we play with a clear plan, unlike how we looked at times against Forest, we’ll perform better.”

Van Dijk, who scored against Milan along with central defensive partner Ibrahima Konaté, emphasized the importance of set pieces this season. He also praised Cody Gakpo, who made an impact in Milan with his first start of the season.

“Gakpo has had some excellent performances in the past, and we shouldn’t overlook that,” Van Dijk said. “We know what he’s capable of. With only one game a week, players need to be patient and at their best. Set pieces are crucial for us. Even though it sometimes looks easier than it is, me and Ibou are both tall and should convert more of those chances. It’s a matter of fighting for every ball. Our goals in Milan showed how vital set pieces can be for us.”

Van Dijk’s remarks underscore the urgency for Liverpool to maintain consistency and adapt quickly to Slot’s management style. As the season progresses, the team’s ability to bounce back from setbacks will be crucial in meeting their ambitions.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has sounded the alarm after his team’s unexpected defeat to Nottingham Forest, stating that “something is wrong.”

This loss marked Slot’s first setback since taking charge, with Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi securing the win through a stunning strike.

Following the match, various theories emerged regarding Liverpool’s poor performance, with some pointing fingers at Slot’s team selection.

However, the manager dismissed these claims, attributing the defeat to too many players underperforming rather than rotation issues.

After the match, Slot commented: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it’s too simplistic to blame it on rotation. Too many of our players just weren’t at their best. When you drop points at home against Nottingham Forest, it’s a sign that something is off. Forest made it tough for us, and when you don’t win, you start looking for reasons. I prefer to watch the game back to identify what went wrong, and some of it had nothing to do with rotation. We’ll never know if rotating the squad would have changed the outcome.”

Slot has previously refused to make excuses for his team, even when others have offered potential reasons for their struggles. Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy suggested that the players might have been affected by fatigue from the recent international break, but Slot wasn’t convinced.

He responded, “It’s always challenging, but I don’t think the break had anything to do with it. The players came back strong, and I saw a team that was willing to fight until the end. This wasn’t an issue of energy. We had possession most of the time and needed to create from that. If you look at the goals we’ve scored so far, many came from transitional moments when we regained possession. Forest countered that by playing long balls over our press, and we mostly regained possession in our backline.”

Slot continued, “Today just wasn’t good enough. Too many individual performances in possession fell short of the standards I expect from these players.”

Liverpool will look to bounce back quickly as they return to action on Tuesday evening, facing Italian giants AC Milan at the San Siro in their Champions League opener.