Bellingham highlights pitch and fatigue issues after Real Madrid win

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has expressed concern about the state of the pitch at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Following his side's 3-1 win over Pachuca, the England international said: "The pitches aren’t great at all. It holds the ball up. The ball barely bounces. It’s tough on the knees as well. Hopefully it’s something that someone will look at, going into next year."

Bellingham, who played his 61st match of the season, acknowledged that the physical toll is noticeable, especially in the high temperatures and demanding schedule.

The English player admitted: "I'm definitely feeling it (the fatigue)... you’ve already got 50 to 60 games in your legs and in this heat, you can definitely feel it. But the way I and the team are approaching it is that it’s five more games of graft and everything we’ve got to try and bring home another title."

Despite the numerical disadvantage following Asencio's early dismissal, Real Madrid managed to manage the game and secure a key victory in Group H in which Bellingham was one of the protagonists, scoring in the 35th minute.