Boss boosts Real's feat as rivals fall flat!
Arbeloa talks Brahim, Courtois, Mbappe, Huijsen, Guler, Guardiola after Man City 1-2 Real Madrid Real Madrid once again proved why they remain the benchmark in European football, producing a disciplined and resilient performance to eliminate Manchester City from the Champions League. In a hostile atmosphere at the Etihad, Real Madrid showed character, composure, and above all, sacrifice, something their manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, was quick to underline after the final whistle. Speaking after the game, Arbeloa made it clear that qualification matters more than the opponent awaiting them next, with a potential clash against Bayern Munich looming.
Before addressing the specifics of the draw, he emphasised the bigger picture. “Well, whoever it is, of course—the important thing is to be there. And as we always say: if you want to be European champions, you have to beat the best.
” The match itself unfolded largely as expected, with Pep Guardiola’s side pressing aggressively from the start. Arbeloa admitted his team struggled at times to control possession but highlighted a turning point. “They came out just as we expected—pressing hard, making things difficult.
“We lacked patience on the ball, but that’s easy to say and harder to do. And after the penalty, everything changed. ” Praise for Brahim Diaz Arbeloa praised Brahim Diaz for his strong performance.
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) One of the standout performers across the tie was Brahim Díaz, who stepped up in a demanding role. Arbeloa acknowledged the pressure the attacker faced replacing a player of Kylian Mbappe’s stature, saying, “He’s had a spectacular series. It wasn’t easy, because he had to fill a huge void, like Mbappe’s.