Confident Jude Bellingham fires Champions League warning at Arsenal | OneFootball

Jude Bellingham warned that the three-goal deficit Real Madrid have to overcome against Arsenal in the Champions League is a scenario "tailor-made" for the Spanish giants.

The England international conceded that Madrid "were nowhere near it" against the Gunners in last week's 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Yet, the build-up to the quarter-final second leg on Wednesday has been dominated by increasing belief that the competition's comeback specialists can pull off another turnaround.

The speculation of a 'remontada' - a comeback - has reached a point of such expectation that even Bellingham called it "weird".

"Remontada. Honestly, I've heard it a million times this week, I've seen a lot of videos on social media, and I've also heard it from you, the press," Bellingham told assembled media before Arsenal arrive at the Bernabeu. "It's a night tailor-made for Madrid."

Bellingham and his teammates raised the prospect of mounting a comeback as soon as last week's final whistle blew, yet those words were somewhat hollow. "Honestly, after the game it's complicated because you have that difficult moment, analysing what you haven't done well." That belief has swelled in the days since.

"As you talk about it and you see the confidence you get into all that. We have had previous experiences. These feelings are contagious. It was almost immediate, on the bus, even though we weren't like we are now."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta acknowledged that "narrative is fuel" for Real Madrid. "It is part of their history and I understand it," he admitted. "They have the right to think of that ­scenario. Our mindset has to be different."

Arteta could match Real Madrid's confidence. "If I had to pick one of the scenarios that I want the most, it would be this one," he insisted.

"The feeling is excitement. We want to create history. We are trying to do something con­sistently, to start to dominate European competition. This is a great opportunity. For sure, we are convinced. When you want to create history, build a story, first of all you have to be excited, really prepared and really convinced about what you want to achieve. Then it is about insisting, going step by step."