Bellingham credits Mourinho's freedom after Real Madrid cruise past Malaga 4-0

Jude Bellingham scored and set up another goal as Real Madrid beat Malaga 4-0 at the Bernabeu on Sunday, making it three wins from three in La Liga under Jose Mourinho. Bellingham has now contributed two goals and two assists across those opening fixtures, and he was direct about the reason: Mourinho has given him the freedom to play his natural game.

Bellingham’s low shot from the right put Madrid ahead in the 19th minute, and his goalbound header proved too much for Malaga’s defence to deal with for the second goal. It followed a goal in the 2-1 opening-weekend win at Espanyol and two assists in the 4-1 midweek victory over Real Sociedad, meaning he has had a hand in five of Madrid’s nine goals so far this season.

“Now I’m a bit more free, with the freedom to move further up, and drop deep if we need it,” Bellingham told Real Madrid TV. “I’m enjoying it a lot. That’s why I’m playing well.”

Mourinho was equally clear about what he expects — and what he does not. “I’ve told him that with my way of seeing football, I don’t want to see him playing as a second left-back,” the coach said at his post-match press conference, referencing how Benfica had exploited Bellingham dropping deep on the left when they beat Madrid in the Champions League. “He knows what he has to do. He feels comfortable doing it.” Mourinho also called Bellingham an “absolutely incredible player” after the final whistle.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Bellingham was critical of how the game finished. Madrid led 3-0 inside the first half-hour but did not add a fourth until the 91st minute. “It was a great game, but the last 20 minutes were really bad, really bad,” he said. “I don’t know why, we weren’t good.” He was substituted in the 87th minute to a standing ovation from the Bernabeu, describing it as “very special, always” and “an honour to play for this club, at this stadium.”

Mourinho made five changes for the Malaga fixture, handing starts to Eduardo Camavinga, Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger and Brahim Diaz. Bellingham noted that the squad depth means quality replacements are always available. The coach also pushed back on suggestions that Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior cannot coexist, saying simply that “very good players want to play together.”

Madrid’s unbeaten start now faces a sterner test, with the Champions League group phase opening against Inter Milan. Whether Bellingham’s freer role holds up as fixtures accumulate — and whether the late-game lapses he flagged against Malaga can be ironed out — will determine how much this early form means.