Family Derby Anticipation—And a Sudden Stop Signal
Reporter: After the win over Monterrey, everyone was looking forward to your duel with Real, where your older brother Jude plays. How painful is it to realize that this meeting will not take place?
Jobe Bellingham: To be honest, at first I didn’t even understand that this card meant I’d miss the next match. Only after the final whistle, when the guys started congratulating me, did I see the gloomy faces of the coaching staff—and it clicked. I’m very upset; a chance to play against Jude at this level doesn’t come every day.
Niko Kovač: “I Had to Break the News in the Dressing Room”
Reporter: Mr. Kovač, how did the moment unfold when you informed Jobe about the suspension?
Niko Kovač (Borussia head coach): At half-time he was running on adrenaline and didn’t feel he was on the brink. After the game we sat in the dressing room, I showed him the protocol and said, “Son, you’ve reached the yellow-card limit.” Disappointment flashed in his eyes immediately. But he’s young, and youth learns through such blows: it’s better to grasp now how costly every yellow card is at tournaments of this caliber.
Reporter: How did you reboot the team psychologically?
Kovač: I told the boys, “The quarter-final isn’t about one player. Jobe will help us from the touchline, and in his place will be the one who earned it in training.” The squad took those words the right way—everyone pulled together.
Sebastian Kehl: “We Dreamed of Writing a Beautiful Family Story”
Reporter: Mr. Kehl, what happened in the tunnel area?
Sebastian Kehl (Borussia sporting director): The black-and-yellow stands were waiting for exactly this story—two brothers on opposite halves, the camera, a handshake before kick-off. When it became clear the script was collapsing, Jobe sat on the bench and covered his face with his hands. We hugged him and said, “You’ll gain experience—you’ll make up for it.” It’s vital for the team to feel the club’s support, so in the evening we held a small closed meeting, spoke frankly, and let off steam.
New Heights Ahead—The Brothers’ Clash Is Still to Come
Reporter: Jobe, where do you see the next chance to meet your brother?
Jobe: Of course I see it. Maybe we’ll cross paths in the Champions League or at the next Club World Cup. Football is a long road: I’m 19, Jude is 22—there’s plenty of time.
Reporter: And if Borussia and Real reach the final today and you’re again one card away from suspension?
Jobe (smiling): I promise to play clean but tough. The main thing is to help the team and keep the card limit in mind!
Conclusion
Yes, football regulations sometimes tear up the brightest posters, but this episode merely postponed the family showdown. Borussia lost an important midfielder yet gained an even more motivated player for the future. And the football world will still see the day when the surname Bellingham echoes twice in the stadium—from both sides of the scoreboard.
