Mic'd Up: The former Real Madrid star discussed El Clasico and why it's 'mad to be having a discussion about Jude Bellingham'

Steve McManaman knows what it's like to play in El Clasico. He was there, in Madrid white, under the lights at the Santiago Bernabeu, when Barcelona came to town. He did the same at the old Camp Nou, buzzing around the pitch as 100,000 Catalonians rooted against him. This is a very specific soccer event, full of energy and, often, anger.

They always feel important, but this year's iteration is curious. Real Madrid are here with a new manager, still adjusting, but also sort of looking the same. At least, that's what "Macca" thinks.

"To be honest, on the pitch, I can't see that many changes that [Xabi Alonso] has made. I've seen them lots of times this year, and they've been almost perfect," the ESPN analyst told GOAL.

But then, there have been results that aren't so good. They were battered, 5-2, in the Madrid derby – a fairly damning result as a new manager is very much trying to find his feet.

"They're beating all the opposition you expect them to beat in La Liga," he said. "They beat the opposition that you expect them to beat in the Champions League. Atletico Madrid away from home was their first big test, and they failed."

It is intriguing, in some senses, that Barca are in a similar place. The reigning La Liga champions are also flawed. For all of the good vibes of Lamine Yamal – someone McManaman dubs a "precious talent" – they are shaky at the back. They beat Madrid on a handful of occasions last year. But they aren't quite the same team, and have had to overcome some early issues. In Marcus Rashford, though, they might just have a world-class talent reborn.

"He needed a change of scenery," McManaman says. "I think that goes without saying. And he's picked the champions of Spain. You couldn't have chosen a better option."

McManaman will join Ian Darke as part of ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes' coverage of El Clasico on Sunday from Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid at 11:15 a.m. ET.

The former Liverpool and Madrid man talks El Clasico, Jude Bellingham and La Liga in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of analysts, announcers and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.

GettyON REAL MADRID THIS SEASON

GOAL: I wanted to start with what you've seen from Madrid this season under Xabi Alonso. What do you make of them, and has he made many changes?

MCMANAMAN: To be honest, on the pitch, I can't see that many changes that he's made. I've seen them lots of times this year, and they've been almost perfect, until they came to Atletico Madrid, and they were very disappointing. So they're beating all the opposition you expect them to beat in La Liga. They beat the opposition that you expect them to beat in the Champions League. Atletico Madrid away from home was their first big test, and they failed. Their second big test is on Sunday. And I'm really looking forward to seeing how what he changes, because they lost four times last year against Barcelona and they conceded a multitude of goals. So he needs to change something. 

But I'm waiting to see whether the proof's in the pudding on Sunday afternoon. Because when I've seen Madrid this year, they're very much similar to last year. But of course, they've got a stronger squad. You know Xabi Alonso has played basically a 4-4-2, or some combination of that. He hasn't played with three at the back, with wing backs, like he did all the time at Bayer Leverkusen. He has a little tiny bit, but principally has four at the back, the midfielders and then the forward line, whether it's Kylian Mbappe and Vini Jr or Kylian and Rodrygo. So I'm waiting to see what he does Sunday, to see if there's a significant difference for last year.

AdvertisementGettyON KYLIAN MBAPPE

GOAL: What are you seeing from Kylian Mbappe's performances? Are you seeing someone who's connecting better with his teammates? That always seemed the one thing Carlo Ancelotti could never quite figure out.

MCMANAMAN: That's the biggest question. Kylian scored 40 goals last year, but Madrid were disappointing. His record this year is exceptional, but it's whether he takes away from the team, Vinícius Jr, Jude, Rodrygo. I'm very impressed with Mbappe, and I think he's an incredible player – his movements, his eye with the ball, his finishing. He could have scored 10 more this year. I've got no problem with it. It's just the work rate, and him integrating Vinicius Jr or Rodrygo, and getting in the number nine position.

I still think Madrid could do with a No. 9, you know, like a Joselu type, somebody who plays a bit differently. And they've got Gonzalo Garcia on the bench. And I like that, but someone with a bit more experience who can get tap-ins all the time. Because Vinicius Junior and Kylian, the way they play, they like to come deep and score these amazing goals. It's working at this moment in time, and let's hope it carries on.

GOAL: It's funny because the way Alonso played at Leverkusen, he wanted his big striker a lot of the time with those creative players.

MCMANAMAN: That's not happening with Madrid, is it? Madrid play the way Madrid play, regardless of the manager. It's hard. You can instill little bits in it, but I don't think you can wholesale change the way they play or the way they operate because of the personnel they have. It's a different managerial job for Xabi than going into Leverkusen and changing things, restructuring things, and going into Madrid and doing exactly the same.

Getty ImagesON JUDE BELLINGHAM

GOAL: Regarding Jude. There's been all sorts of conversations in England. What have you made of him for Madrid? And for England, it seems to be this Jude versus Morgan Rogers debate for the national team.

MCMANAMAN: For me, there is no debate. It's as simple as that. The fact that England have walked one of the easiest groups I've ever seen in my life does not change the fact that Jude Bellingham is one of the best players in the England squad. So there is no defense for me. I'm sorry. I think Morgan Rogers is great as well. Don't get me wrong. But if you've got Jude Bellingham and he's fit, he plays. It's as simple as that for me. 

And he's just been injured. He's done his shoulder, and he's back. I thought he was good against Getafe, and I thought he was excellent against Juventus. So again, I don't know why it is a discussion, to be very honest. I think we just have a discussion in England because we're English. To anybody else, they would think you'd be mad to be having a discussion about Jude Bellingham.

AFPON BARCELONA

GOAL: And what about Barcelona this year?

MCMANAMAN: They've strengthened in the summer, but not as much as Madrid. You know, they came across PSG, and PSG pipped them with a weakened side. They've still played that mad high line at times. So I just think they need to be a little bit more organized. They're going to beat teams because of the creativity on the top end of the pitch. It's just whether they can keep teams out of the other end. They can run by all of the clubs in La Liga. It's just that, I wonder with the way they play, whether they can win the Champions League. 

Because they'll come across a team that are a bit more pragmatic, defensively sound, and they will hit them on the counter attack. And I think they've got to find a balance of being defensive and playing this mad high line that Hansi Flick wants. And I think something in between will benefit them. And he's a few injuries again, because I don't think the squad is as strong as other squads. So they've got to find a balance and keep Lamine, Raphinha and Pedri fit, and then they'll be fine.

GOAL: What about Lamine? There was this warfare, it seemed, with the Spanish national team. Is this just part of the normal cycle of the way that Spain treats its young players?

MCMANAMAN: You can see it in the past. They've had a number of injuries that 16, 17, 18, 19-year-olds should never have. I've said on 1,000 occasions, I think Lamine is the most precious talent we've seen in a long, long, long time, even before Leo Messi, because of his talent at 16. You just want him protected to a certain extent, because if he gets an ACL injury or if he's being overworked, it'll just be a disaster. We saw Ansu Fati overworked, and it was just injury, injury, injury. And now you never hear from him. So these young players, you want to see them all the time. But you don't want them to be overused. Play for the Spanish national team in big competitions, yes, but in qualifiers? No.

GOAL: It's almost like, what's the point, right? 

MCMANAMAN: If they've got little knocks, you shouldn't be pushing them, or giving them tablets to get through pain. Not when you're 18 or the best teenager the world has ever seen. You have to do the right thing by these players.