Carlo Ancelotti insists ‘fantastic guy’ Jude Bellingham ‘respects’ Harry Kane despite trying to throw his England team-mate off before taking penalty for Bayern Munich… and claims there is ‘NO problem’ between the pair

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Jude Bellingham did nothing wrong when he tried to disrupt Harry Kane’s penalty preparations as the Spanish champions drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in Germany.

Kane scored a crucial goal for Bayern from the spot at the Allianz Arena as the two giants of European football met in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last week. But he had to put up with his England teammate Bellingham chatting in his ear as he put the ball on the spot.

Ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu tomorrow night, Ancelotti was asked if Bellingham had shown a lack of respect and said: ‘Jude is a fantastic guy and he respects everyone. He has a very good relationship with Harry Kane for the England team. There is no problem between them.’

Kane will captain Bellingham at the European Championships in Germany this summer. But on Wednesday evening in Madrid the two players will compete for a place in the Champions League final at Wembley.

Ancelotti – who has previously managed Bayern as well as Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League – has won the Champions League four times as a manager and twice as a player. Last weekend his team clinched a 36th La Liga title.

Bellingham came under fire for trying to distract Harry Kane while taking his penalty for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid

Asked about his secrets, the great Italian said: ‘Today is one of those days when you work to live. There is so much excitement. That’s great motivation to keep going. Today we must enjoy this.

‘Tomorrow will be more difficult. I’ll be a little worried before the match. But it’s great to prepare for another semi-final.”

Ancelotti joined Bayern in August 2016, replacing Pep Guardiola, but despite winning the Bundesliga he was sacked 14 months later.

When asked about this today, he said, “It’s a long story, but I’ll keep it short. If you do your job, you should be supported by the club. If that support fails, it is better to split. That’s what happened at Bayern.

Ancelotti said Bellingham was a ‘fantastic guy’ and insisted there were no problems between the player and Kane

‘I have a good relationship with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the other directors. But that’s the way it works. If you don’t get support, it’s time to go.”

Kane had confirmed Bellingham’s comments after the first match, saying: ‘I spoke to him afterwards and he said, “I know you’re going to the goalkeeper’s left”. But for me it was nice, because I saw the goalkeeper go a little too early and I put him away. I knew [Bellingham] was there, but I didn’t know what he said. But I still went to the left.’

TNT Sports pundit Michael Owen also gave his assessment of what he thought the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder whispered into Kane’s ear.

“I think the referee sees him and Bellingham gives him a little wink, as if to say: ‘He’s my mate, I can say whatever I want,'” said the ex-Man United and Liverpool striker.

Bellingham’s behavior did not stop his English colleague from converting to give Bayern a 2-1 lead that evening

‘I can imagine [Kane] is just shutting out anything and everything at that moment and that certainly didn’t deter him.’

Meanwhile, Mail Sport columnist and podcast host Chris Sutton claimed Kane Bellingham showed a lack of respect following his antics.

“Whether you like it or I like it, it doesn’t matter. Did Harry Kane like it? Does Harry Kane like it for 24 hours? I think he would feel there is a lack of respect. Really and truly. They are going to the euro together.’

“There’s a big competition, a big moment,” he added. ‘You can understand the desperation of Bellingham and Real Madrid. But I thought it was a strange move. He has had a brilliant start to his career, exceptionally at Dortmund.

‘He went to Madrid, but maybe people see him as someone who might be a bit above his means when he does things like that.’