Joe Cole urges Jude Bellingham to 'cement his legacy' in Real Madrid's clash against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final... and reveals why Jadon Sancho 'must take responsibility' for his Man United exit

Chelsea legend Joe Cole has urged Jude Bellingham to 'cement his legacy' in Saturday night's Champions League final. 

Real Madrid star Bellingham is vying to win the competition for the first time in his career at Wembley but will need to triumph over his former side Borussia Dortmund in order to do so.  

The 20-year-old will come up against some familiar faces on the night, with former team-mate Jadon Sancho likely to feature in Edin Terzic's line-up. 

Ahead of the game - the biggest in the club football calendar - Cole has teamed up with Expedia Live, the brand encouraging fans to travel the beautiful game, to preview the match. 

Speaking to Mail Sport, Cole said: 'It's going to be a great game. I think it's fantastic that, first of all, we have this game in London, and that we have the ability to showcase our skills. 

'You know, welcoming the world to this great city for fans to come to. Dortmund fans have a history playing the final in London, so they'll know all about it. But it's just great that we've got it in this country. And we need to do it justice'.

Cole - who made 56 appearances for England during his established career - then reflected on both Bellingham and Sancho's seasons and what a win in the final could mean to both men respectively. 

'It'll be a big moment for both of them, for different reasons, but Jadon Sancho is a fantastically talented player. It didn't work for him at Manchester United but there's no doubt about his ability. He's gone to Dortmund and he's doing it. He's at home! He was brilliant in the semi-final, particularly the first leg.

'And with Jude... I love Jude! I think he's amazing. If I was managing Jude now, I'd be saying, "I don't want you doing the media". 

'Everyone's clambering them in this country. So, I would be saying, I don't care what the media men say, what the sponsors say, if I'm looking after Jude Bellingham, forget all that. 

'Go and become the great player that you you already are, but go and cement your legacy and win. Enjoy yourself. More importantly, take it all in. He doesn't need to be running around answering questions.

'I'm looking at the Euros, with Gareth [Southgate]. As soon as he turns up for the squad, I'd say, "listen, you're not doing anything after the game. Go straight through the mixed zone. We're not putting you up for anything". 

'There'll be pushback from a lot of people but you've got to do what's right for him, for the team. Let him enjoy his football. Let him play'.

While Bellingham has enjoyed a remarkable campaign since leaving Borussia Dortmund making the £113m move to Madrid, his former team-mate Sancho has found since returning to Germany.

In September, Sancho was ostracised at Manchester United and sent back to Dortmund on loan in January after falling out with manager Erik ten Hag. 

In a social media post, Sancho effectively branded Ten Hag a liar over his reasons for leaving the player out of his squad because he had not trained hard enough. 

However, Sancho can have the last laugh when he plays for Dortmund against Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley, a week after Ten Hag won the FA Cup there in what could be his last game in charge. 

Speaking more on Sancho, Cole continued: 'I think Sancho is a fantastic, talented player. I don't think he's got the mindset and mentality of a Jude Bellingham, which is fine, you know, he's had his difficulties. 

'I don't think he covered himself in glory with how he handled himself at Manchester United. That's not me trying to grab headlines or anything. I'd say it to his face! 

'But I think he's a good lad. And I'm so happy for him that he's smiling and he's back playing football and he's doing his thing. But I think responsibility lies on both fronts in that situation, right? But that's life. You make mistakes and you mature. 

'He's here tomorrow and I hope he rams it down the throat of everyone who doubted him. I love a redemption story, you know. But ultimately, as you mature and you grow older, you think about things you do and and you learn, and I think he'll learn from his experience. I think he's still got a massive to say from England, and anything.

Sancho, despite his impressive form for Dortmund in the second-half of the campaign, was left out of Southgate's provisional squad for this summer's Euros. 

Cole continued: 'He left his run too late. If he started the season at Dortmund, I think he'd have been in the picture. I mean, the unfortunate thing is, there's other great players in that position, doing fantastic things.

'I think the one thing I would hope he does is learn from his experience. You know, I do think he's a misunderstood character but someone around him has to tell him that he has to take some responsibility for what happened. 

'Because a player of his ability shouldn't be not getting in that Manchester United team'.

Joe Cole was speaking on behalf of Expedia Live. The brand is encouraging fans to travel the beautiful game, as nothing beats being there. Visit Expedia Live or head to the Expedia stand at the UEFA Champions Festival in Trafalgar Square this weekend.