“I’m Not Perfect”: Jobe Bellingham Gaining Momentum Ahead of Manchester City Clash

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham is slowly finding his rhythm after a tough start in Germany. He is set to return to England for a Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday. The 20-year-old joined Dortmund from Sunderland in the summer for a reported €30.5 million ($35 million), one of the club’s biggest signings.

Jobe follows his older brother Jude, who joined Dortmund at 17 and later became a superstar at Real Madrid. Comparisons were inevitable but Jobe said Dortmund was the best place for him to develop. “I’m not perfect. I do think about these things,” he admitted.

He wears “Jobe” on his jersey to carve out his own identity. His first months in Germany were difficult. He was substituted at half-time in his Bundesliga debut and saw limited playing time afterward. He also made a costly error against Bayern Munich, failing to clear a goal-line ball that led to a goal. Early tensions arose when his father and agent confronted Dortmund’s sporting director. The club later reminded that the technical area is only for players, coaches and staff.

Jobe’s form started improving in mid-October. Three days after the Bayern setback, he provided two assists in a 4 – 2 Champions League win at Copenhagen. He later helped Dortmund win a German Cup clash at Eintracht Frankfurt, creating the equalizer and assisting in the penalty shootout. He also made a key defensive block in a 1-0 win over Augsburg. Dortmund confirmed he is expected to start against Manchester City.

Coach Niko Kovac praised Jobe’s development. “You could see in our last game against Frankfurt what qualities he has. He’s present. He’s physical. We’re building him up slowly, and it’s going even faster than I imagined because the lad really has a lot of quality,” Kovac said. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel added, “Jobe is doing great. He’s getting better week to week; outstanding.”

With confidence growing and performances improving, Jobe Bellingham is ready to step out of his brother’s shadow. He aims to show he can shine on his own and make a mark in European football.