UCL quarter-finals: Arsenal dumped out Real as Arteta reveals Guardiola phone call before the match
Arsenal defeated Real Madrid in the both legs of their quarter-final matches to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
The gunners secured their impressive victories in the both legs following their outstanding performances at home (Emirates Stadium) and also at the Bernabeu, in Madrid, on Wednesday to book a place in the semis.
It was Arsenal who opened the scoring courtesy a goal from Bukayo Saka who missed a chance earlier to put the Gunners ahead after having his spot kick saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid also went close on different occasions courtesy efforts from Mbape, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
UCL Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Dumped Out Real
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta asked, during the post-match press conference if he had ever felt prouder of his players, and he answered: “Probably not.
“Not only because we’re in the semi-final for the third time in our history, but also for the manner and the way we did it, with the circumstances, the amount of injuries that we had.
“I think overall, I think it shows the character of this team, of this club, and it’s a night to be very proud of.
“What this shows is that the feeling that we have is a reality. And the feeling that I had before the tie, with what the players were transmitting and how prepared I could feel they were, was that we are ready to compete against anybody.
“Now, we have to continue to do that because I think we have some momentum.”
Arteta, who would not hold back his joy and happiness, praised his team and their commitment to getting the job done in the second leg.
He hailed his players’ ‘mentality and maturity handling the unfriendly atmosphere at inside the Bernabeu during the second-leg match.
“It’s certainly another massive step. Where we finished last year and the way we’ve done it this year against the team with the highest honors in the competition, it’s incredible,” he said.
UCL Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Dumped Out Real
“But I want to be credit to them as well. It was my first time as a coach in that dugout and today I realized after three minutes that in this stadium, anything is possible.
“They are specialists of creating such a chaos, such a belief, and it’s very difficult to understand really what’s going on in the game and have certain certainty about how we control it. But I think the players showed their own maturity.”
Arteta added: “It is just the third time in our history we have got this far so we need to build on that.
“We are hungry. We are a young team that are determined. All these experiences, including for myself, will help us to try and achieve something big.
“We had full belief we could beat this team and dominate them but then you have to do it and the players did it.”
Jay Bothroyd breaks down Bukayo Saka’s calm finish as he dinks it over Thibaut Courtois to put Arsenal 4-1 ahead on aggregate
UCL Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Dumped Out Real
Declan Rice’s Masterstroke In Arsenal Demolishing Of Real Madrid
The history will always have Declan Rice’s name written in past week as he has continued to show his maturity, talent, drive and authority on the pitch.
UCL Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Dumped Out Real
Although, Arsenal paid huge fee signing him from West Ham two summers ago, Rice, has since then, improved and proved ‘value for money.’
“I knew when I signed this club was on an upward trajectory,” Rice said after his central role in the 5-1 aggregate win. Arsenal’s decision-makers rightly thought the same way about him.
“This club is going to do some special things over the next few years,” added the man who has placed himself at the nucleus of the success to come.
Though, with the high expectation of déjà vu at the Bernabeu, Rice, at the center of Arsenal midfield, stood up to the challenge.
He recorded most touched, in the game, than any other Arsenal teammate; stemming from the most accurate passes, the most interception, the joint-most tackles to the joint-most chances created.
His handling of the midfield and battle with Jude Bellingham were fierce, fiery and maybe pivotal to the encounter as a whole.
The coverage of Rice buzzing the midfield with ball at his feet has become a familiar experience.
UCL Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Dumped Out Real
Even while Thomas Partey ran into trap late in the game, in a challenge on Antonio Rudiger, resulting to a yellow card, which would keep him out of the first leg of the semi-final match, Rice was shown to bark at his midfield compatriot to sharpen up. It was just an evidence of the demands he puts on his teammates.
“He lifted the team in many moments and turned the game in our favor, and that’s what you need, players to step up and have a big contribution,” said his head coach.
A player in the calibre of Declan Rice is priceless.
Ancelotti: My Time At Real Madrid Could Be Done Tomorrow
Real Madrid Manager Carlo Ancelotti conceded that his future at the club remains uncertain, claiming his time could be up as early as “tomorrow” but insisted that he would always be grateful to the club regardless the outcome.
The Spanish club and defending champions looked shadows of their former selves who had won the competition two times in three years as they were outplayed and outclassed by Arsenal in the two-legged quarter-final match.
In the domestic league, La Liga, Real Madrid are also four points behind table-toppers, Barcelona, with just seven games left to be played.
When asked if he saw himself long-term at the club, Ancelotti answered: “It could be this year, next year when my contract runs out…
“There’s no problem about it. But when I am done here, I will be grateful to this club.
It could be tomorrow, in one year, or in 10 years, but I will be grateful to this club. And that’s it. Full stop.”
UCL Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Dumped Out Real
