Champions League final: 'That's a good shout', Don Hutchison backs Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham to play as striker against Borussia Dortmund

Jude Bellingham has only gone from strength to strength ever since he joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in June 2023. Twelve months after joining the 14-time European Cup champions, life will come full circle for the 20-year-old as Real Madrid face Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final in Wembley on Saturday.

Following a successful season with Los Blancos in the Spanish La Liga with 19 goals, which was more than the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann, the midfielder has been tipped by many including head coach Carlo Ancelotti to become a striker.

Bellingham has often been used as a false nine by Ancelotti, which only highlights the England international’s versatility. And that’s exactly what Ancelotti might do with Bellingham against Borussia Dortmund, feels former Scotland international and current commentator Don Hutchison.

“I think he might do. I think that’s a good shout. I think, yeah, I think Rodrygo off on the right side and Vinicius Junior off the left-hand side. I think it will work that way. You’ve got a bundle of midfield players. You’ve got so much quality midfield that you can choose from. But just freeze Jude Bellingham up to play that sort of false number nine. Joselu, as we saw in the Champions League semi-final, is another option,” Hutchison told reporters during an online interaction organised by the Sony Sports Network.

And although Hutchison feels it would ultimately depend on how Ancelotti uses Joselu, he feels Bellingham has everything in him to play at multiple positions.

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“How will Carlo see Joselu? You might think he is more suited to coming off the bench if the game’s not going their way. But in terms of the position, I think Jude Bellingham can play multiple positions. He could play number eight, he can play number ten, he can play the false nine. So a really exciting player to watch,” added the 53-year-old.

Jadon Sancho is another England player who has revived his career ever since arriving at Dortmund on loan from Manchester United. Although he may not have the numbers to show for it at Dortmund (just two assists and three goals combined in Bundesliga and UCL), the 24-year-old has been an impactful force ever since his return to the Signal Iduna Park.

Sancho has completed 36 successful dribbles in the Bundesliga since his return and has been effective in creating chances from open play. In the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against PSG, Sancho was causing a ruckus all around the PSG box.

Hutchison feels Sancho is a “completely different player” in Germany. “You’re seeing a completely different player to the player that was at Man United. I mean, it’s still a mystery.”

“It tells me one or two things. It tells me that Man United was too big for him and he couldn’t handle it or he didn’t get trained very well by the manager and the coaching staff because he’s gone back to Borussia Dortmund and he looks a completely different player.

“His interviews, talking about street football and talking about he’s got his confidence back and you can see it in his eyes that his hunger’s back and he likes pulling on that yellow jersey and he looks a different player. So I think for Borussia Dortmund’s point of view, if you’re going to pick one player that could be a match winner, the form that he’s in, you’d mention Sancho for sure,” continued the former Everton and West Ham United player.

“You have to be at the best”

Real Madrid have created a legacy by winning the Champions League a record 14 times and the secret of that success is to become the best, according to former India striker Robin Singh. “Playing at Madrid, you know, you have to be the best. And the Champions League is the league of champions. Every champion team of their respective leagues has to come and play against the others.

“So, with that being said, it is a little more difficult to keep performing at the Champions League. And it’s a trophy that a lot of teams are chasing. Having won it four times just gives you, you know, an example of what he. How good he (Ancelotti) is as a manager,” said the 34-year-old.

Robin termed Dortmund as a “surprise package” heading into the Champions League final. Dortmund, coached by 41-year-old Edin Terzic, topped their group and beat the likes of Atletico Madrid and PSG to reach the summit clash.

“Dortmund will look at saying, right, you know what, we’re not here to sit back. It’s the Champions League final. It’s the one final before the Euros. Let’s go out there, let’s give it our all. Dortmund is a surprise package,” added the Noida-born footballer.

Watch the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid on 2nd June 2024 from 12:30 AM onwards LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu).