WEMBLEY WAY
Champions League final breaks Wembley tradition after Real Madrid win as fans brand it ‘sacrilege’
Fans slammed organisers for breaking with tradition
REAL MADRID broke a Wembley tradition after winning the Champions League.
The Spanish giants beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to get their hands on the trophy for a 15th time.
5
5
But fans were not happy with how Real Madrid celebrated lifting Old Big Ears.
That is because captain Nacho Fernandez raised the trophy on the Wembley pitch, rather than in the Royal Box as per tradition.
Victorious teams at Wembley always ascend the famous 107 steps to collect their winners' medal and trophy, no matter the competition.
Bayern Munich even did so when they won the Champions League at Wembley in 2013, so fans were disappointed to see that tradition broken by Los Blancos.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
One fan reacted saying: "Can't believe they didn't do the trophy presentation in the Royal Box. Sacrilege #UCLfinal"
Another added: "Wembley cup final trophy presentation on the pitch? Not in the royal box? Woke is ruining football."
A third wrote: "Trophy lift not in the royal box is a disgrace."
And another commented: "Ludicrous this Wembley presentation is on the pitch. UEFA are ridiculous. Use the Royal Box you ungrateful swine!"
Most read in Champions League
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
5
5
Goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius gave Real a historic win in London - their 15th Champions League title.
It was also a first Champions League win for Jude Bellingham, who has enjoyed a brilliant debut season at the Bernabeu after winning LaLiga.
Zinedine Zidane suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as he brings out Champions League trophy at Wembley
5
Bellingham outshines Sancho on the night of his dreams at Wembley
THE very moment Vinicius Junior struck the second goal, Jude Bellingham sank to his knees, stretched out his arms and looked up at the sky, writes Charlie Wyett.
It was the moment that Bellingham had always dreamed of, to win the Champions League. The fact it came at Wembley, on home soil, made it that little sweeter.
Bellingham delivered the pass to Vinicius who scored to ensure that Real Madrid, remarkably, have now been the kings of Europe on 15 occasions.
It was the final kick of the biggest game in Bellingham’s life as he was immediately replaced by Joselu in a tactical switch by Carlo Ancelotti.
With no Premier League teams involved, this was an English duel between Bellingham and Jadon Sancho. The west midlands v south London. Stourbridge versus Kennington.
It is obvious which of the two former team-mates won this scrap, although Sancho’s team should have put Real out of sight by half-time.
Ultimately, neither Englishmen had particularly dazzling games.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, started brightly and gave Real left-back Ferland Mendy a few uneasy moments.
Yet this was nothing like the performances he delivered against PSG to help his team to the final.
Instead, with three minutes remaining of normal time, Sancho was replaced by another Englishman, teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
There was to be no drama. Bellingham added this Euro title to his La Liga winner’s medal. Not forgetting he has also been voted as the La Liga player of the year.
Bellingham, featuring in his 42nd game of the season for Real, was unable to make much of an impact in his role wide left.
On the hour mark, he had touched the ball 35 times but had done little with it.
With the scores at 0-0, he somehow failed to score with a header when he was unable to make contact with a cross from Vinicius. Any touch and it would have been a goal.
By then, the keyboard warriors were out in force on social media, dishing out some laughable criticism of England's greatest talent. Potentially, our greatest ever player.
Yet the inevitable happened and Dortmund were left to curse those missed chances.
A mistake by Sancho led to a Madrid corner and Dani Carvajal leapt highest to head them into the lead.
Bellingham had another chance but it was deflected wide by Nico Schlotterbeck.
But, with seven minutes left, he helped stick the knife in to help Vinicius score and ensure this is an evening he will never forget.
In the crowd were his dad Mark, mum Denise and brother Jobe, who got into the stadium five hours early
Bellingham’s mum was in tears as her son stepped up to get his medal. And let’s all hope Bellingham will be lifting another trophy in Berlin on July 14.