It has been a turbulent season for Real Madrid, with inconsistency, injuries and mounting pressure preventing the club from fully meeting expectations.
Yet amid the frustration surrounding the campaign, two players are beginning to restore optimism inside the Santiago Bernabeu, namely, Jude Bellingham and Dean Huijsen.
According to reports from AS, Real Madrid have been particularly pleased with the mentality and response shown by both players during the difficult moments of the season.
While criticism and scrutiny intensified around the squad over recent months, both Bellingham and Huijsen are now finishing the campaign strongly and proving why the club continues to see them as pillars of the future project.
The Espanyol game
Against Espanyol, although Vinicius Jr. grabbed the headlines with a brace, Bellingham produced one of his most complete displays in recent weeks.
Bellingham completed six dribbles during the match, showing the kind of mobility and aggression that had been missing from his game during parts of the season.
Despite regularly attempting difficult forward passes and taking risks in possession, he still finished the game with an impressive 93.5% pass completion rate.
Real Madrid appreciate the redemption arc of Bellingham and Huijsen. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
His involvement was equally significant elsewhere, as Bellingham registered 84 touches throughout the game and matched Vinicius with three shots.
Internally, the club sees this improvement as a major positive after a season where questions had started to emerge about his adaptation and tactical role.
What about Huijsen?
On the other hand, Huijsen also produced a display that strongly impressed people within the club.
He recorded 107 touches, which was the highest of any Real Madrid player on the pitch.
Defensively, the centre-back won three aerial duels, the most among Madrid players in a category usually dominated by Aurelien Tchouameni, while also making four important recoveries during the match.
Apart from the numbers, Real Madrid value the attitude both players have shown during difficult moments.
Huijsen has fought through a challenging campaign after previously admitting he hit rock bottom mentally at times, while Bellingham has had to deal with scrutiny surrounding his role under the current coaching structure.
