England star Jude Bellingham has praised Arsenal’s performance while maintaining hope for a Real Madrid comeback after the Spanish giants suffered a stunning 3-0 defeat in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
“We were nowhere near it,” Bellingham admitted candidly after the match. “Arsenal were really good. I know two of their goals were free-kicks but they could have had way more.”
Despite the commanding Arsenal victory, powered by Declan Rice’s two remarkable free-kicks and Mikel Merino’s strike, Bellingham refused to concede the tie. “We need something really special, something crazy really, but one place where crazy things happen is our house,” he said, referencing Madrid’s history of European comebacks at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti echoed his midfielder’s assessment, acknowledging Arsenal’s superiority while maintaining a sliver of hope. “The result means that Arsenal were much better than us,” the Italian conceded. “Now it will be very difficult in the second leg. But we have to try.”
For Arsenal, this victory represents a potential turning point in their season. Having fallen behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race and exited both domestic cup competitions, the Gunners now stand on the verge of reaching their first Champions League final since 2006.
Defender William Saliba emphasized the team’s defensive solidity: “When we keep a clean sheet, we are so proud. We are happy, the whole backline did a really good job today.” However, he cautioned against complacency: “Everyone was so happy, but we know that the job is not done.”
The second leg in Madrid presents Arsenal with an opportunity to complete one of their greatest European triumphs, while Real Madrid face the challenge of orchestrating what would be among the most remarkable comebacks in Champions League history.
Rice’s free-kick masterclass was particularly noteworthy as the England midfielder had never previously scored directly from a set-piece in his professional career.