RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose has this evening revealed that he has not yet been fully convinced of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham’s absence for the impending showdown between the two clubs.
Leipzig, of course, are set to play host to Spanish heavyweights Real on Tuesday night, as part of the opening round of fixtures in the Last-16 of the Champions League.
Midfielder Bellingham, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the fixture, after picking up an ankle injury over the weekend.
The England international is expected to spend the coming two to three weeks on the sidelines, with what was labelled as a ‘high ankle sprain’.
And yet, as alluded to above, one individual not yet ready to believe that Bellingham will not take to the pitch on Tuesday night comes in the form of Marco Rose.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference this afternoon, Leipzig’s boss was asked for his take on what the absence of one of world football’s most in-form players could mean for his side’s hopes of advancement to the quarter-finals.
Rose, though, suggested that Bellingham could yet feature, having had first-hand experience of both the physical and mental fortitude boasted by the 20-year-old during their shared stint together at Borussia Dortmund:
“I won’t believe Jude Bellingham is out until he’s not at the stadium tomorrow,” Rose began. “I know Jude, he’ll do everything possible to play in a Champions League match. Let’s see.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
