Carlo Ancelotti insists 'fantastic guy' Jude Bellingham 'respects' Harry Kane

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has leapt to the defence of Jude Bellingham after the midfielder came under fire for trying to throw Harry Kane off before taking his penalty last week - and insists the player 'respects' his England team-mate.

Madrid are preparing to face Bayern Munich again in the Champions League semi-finals this week after the first leg in Germany ended 2-2.

Vinicius Jr had netted the opener before Leroy Sane got the German side level. Kane put Bayern ahead from the spot, but not before Bellingham tried to distract him by muttering in his ear: 'You're going to hit it left'.

Kane kept his composure to slot his effort beyond Andriy Lunin anyway, with Bellingham receiving some stick from pundits who questioned why he would pull off dirty tactics towards a team-mate he will be playing alongside for England this summer at Euro 2024.

But Ancelotti insisted there was 'no problem' between the pair as he defended Bellingham as a 'fantastic guy' ahead of the next game at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

'Jude is a fantastic guy and he respects Harry and everybody,' the Italian said at his press conference ahead of the second leg.

'He has a really good relationship with Harry Kane for the England team. There is no problem between them.'

Kane had confirmed Bellingham's comments after the game, saying: 'I spoke to him after and he said: "I know you're going to go left of the keeper". But it was nice for me because I saw the keeper go a little bit early and I put it away. I knew [Bellingham] was there but I didn't know what he said. But I went left anyway.'

Michael Owen, on punditry for TNT Sports, also gave his verdict on what he thought the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder was whispering in 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 what I want kind of thing,'' the ex-Man United and Liverpool forward said.

'I can imagine he [Kane] is just shutting everything and anything out at that moment and it certainly didn't put him off.'

Meanwhile, Mail Sport columnist and podcast host Chris Sutton claimed Kane showed Bellingham 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 24 hours on? I think he would feel there's a bit of a lack of respect there. I really, really do. They're off to the Euros together.'

'There's a big competition, a big moment,' he added. 'You can understand the desperation for Bellingham, for Real Madrid to go through. But I thought it was a strange move. He's had a brilliant start to his career, exceptional at Dortmund.

'He's gone to Madrid but maybe people are viewing him as someone who may be getting a bit above his station when he does stuff like that.'