Trent Alexander-Arnold expressed that there was an expectation that Real Madrid would be heavily defeated by Manchester City during Wednesday’s match. He commended the team’s “mentality” and their “perfectly executed gameplan” after securing a 3-0 victory in the Champions League round of 16.
Federico Valverde made a remarkable impact by scoring a first-half hat trick, positioning Madrid ahead at the Bernabéu. The only downside for coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad was Vinícius Júnior’s missed penalty in the second half, as they look forward to next week’s second leg in Manchester.
Since Arbeloa’s appointment in January, Madrid’s performances have been inconsistent, suffering four defeats – including losses to Albacete in the Copa del Rey and Benfica in league play, as well as consecutive LaLiga defeats to Osasuna and Getafe. This raises concerns about the likelihood of the 15-time European champions ending the season without a trophy.
“There was a lot of noise before this match, especially considering our recent performances and results,” Alexander-Arnold told TNT Sports. “Many expected us to be overwhelmed tonight.
“However, we demonstrated great mentality. It doesn’t matter who’s unavailable; this competition holds immense significance for the club, and we recognize that as players. We executed our gameplan flawlessly in the first half.”
Real Madrid faced City in the first leg without key players such as Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Álvaro Carreras, David Alaba, and Dani Ceballos.
“People may say they are favorites based on results and the current form of both teams, and they could be right,” said Alexander-Arnold. “But in knockout matches of the Champions League, anything can happen… We took our chances ruthlessly.”
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Currently, Madrid trails their rivals Barcelona by four points in the LaLiga title race, and following their European performances – including losses to Liverpool, City, and Benfica – they are regarded by many as outsiders to win the Champions League.
“The magnitude of this match is paramount,” Alexander-Arnold stated. “I don’t mean to downplay other games, but when so much attention is drawn to a match, as a player, you understand the need to perform. Especially at a club of this stature, there are no excuses; winning is the only option.”