Arsenal stars Declan Rice and William Saliba have expressed elation at the 3-0 win over European champions Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarterfinal fixtures of the Champions League Tuesday night.
Rice scored a brace through well-struck freekicks while Mikel Merino added a gloss to the victory with a brilliant finish in the 75th minute.
Rice told the media:
You May Also Like
“We were planning on crossing the ball, but I spoke to Bukayo and he said to me if you’re feeling it, take it. I saw the wall and the keeper and it didn’t make sense to cross it.
“Nicolas Jover kept telling me to cross it but Bukayo told me to take it. I took control and I told B (Bukayo)I’m going to hit this.”
Saliba added: “We want to go there [Madrid] and win the game. We won 3-0 today but we know it’s not finished. The Champions League there’s a lot of things that can happen so we have to go there and win and to not defend all the game.”
The return leg is next week at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have not lost the first leg in any of their last eight knockout stage ties in the Champions League (W5 D3), their joint-longest run in the competition in first-leg meetings.
However, star player, Kylian Mbappe is optimistic that the La Liga giants will bounce back.
“The comeback is possible, of course. We have to believe until the end”.
More Stories
Super Eagles impressive in narrow defeat by World Cup-bound Portugal in Leiria
International Friendly: Super Falcons opt for intensity against Senegal in second game
International Friendly: Super Falcons edge Senegal’s Lionesses 2-1 in Ikenne-Remo
Eric Chelle talks tough ahead of the Unity Cup final against Jamaica in London.
Under-strength Nigeria lash Zimbabwe 2-0 to reach Unity Cup final
