'Bad day' - Jude Bellingham looking to 'refocus' after Real Madrid's woeful collapse against Atletico Madrid while Dean Huijsen apologises to fans

Madrid’s promising start to the season came crashing down with a crushing 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the derby at the Metropolitano. Julian Alvarez tore through Los Blancos’ backline, scoring twice as Atletico dominated from the outset. Real’s defensive fragility and lack of intensity cost them dearly, allowing Barcelona to leapfrog them at the top of La Liga after their 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

For a team that prides itself on resilience, this was a humbling setback - one that has forced both senior and younger players to break their silence and face the fans.

Bellingham, who has already become a leader in Madrid’s midfield, addressed the setback in his own way. Sharing a post from Almaty, Kazakhstan, where Madrid are preparing for their Champions League clash against Kairat, the England international admitted it had been a “bad day” but stressed the importance of moving on.

In his Instagram story, the former Borussia Dortmund player wrote, "Bad day at the weekend and still work to do but time to refocus on UCL."

Spanish centre-back Huijsen was singled out for criticism after a difficult outing. The critics argued he struggled in his debut Madrid derby, losing most aerial duels and being physically overwhelmed by Atletico’s attackers.

His defensive positioning and decision-making were also questioned as Real’s backline was repeatedly exposed. Despite these difficulties, Huijsen showed maturity by apologising to fans and acknowledging the long season ahead for the team.

“I apologise to the fans for this weekend. We’ll keep going, we have a long way to go,” he wrote on Instagram, showing accountability after the derby collapse.

Veteran Carvajal also took to social media to address the supporters, striking a more reflective tone: “The way forward is to keep working, learn from our mistakes, and rise stronger.”

The derby humiliation has left Los Blancos with bruised pride but it has given them a chance to respond quickly. Their Champions League group stage trip to Kazakhstan to face Kairat comes at the perfect time and provides the team with an opportunity to prove the defeat was an aberration rather than a trend.

With players owning up to their mistakes and facing fans head-on, it shows that the team are committed to the season and won't repeat the same mistake in their next fixture on September 30.