Before facing Europe’s most successful team, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta shared his expectations with his team.
Beating Real Madrid is never easy, even for a superior team. And when the return leg is at Santiago Bernabéu, the challenge becomes even tougher. So, what’s the way forward? Arteta has already given his team the answer.
Arsenal will meet Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final next Tuesday. A few days before the match, Arteta spoke to Spanish sports newspaper AS and news agency EFE, where much of the interview revolved around the upcoming clash.
Reaching the semi-finals of Europe’s top competition for the first time since the 2008-09 season is no easy feat for Arsenal. Despite struggling in the early stages of this new-look Champions League, they’ve made it to the quarter-finals.
It’s always tough to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s team in the knockout stages. This season, the Spanish champions are still in the race for three major trophies. What does Arteta have planned to take on this formidable side?
“First, we have to do better than them. From the first minute, we need to believe in victory. In decisive moments, we must be effective. We know that in the Champions League, matches are decided in the penalty box.”
“Even if we’re the better team, we might not always beat Real. That’s possible. But if we play badly, our chances will be even slimmer (laughs). In that case, we might not have any chance at all.”
The second leg will take place at Bernabéu on April 16. That adds to the challenge for Arteta, knowing that it’s a stadium where Real Madrid has written countless legendary comebacks.
“In my opinion, when a team wins many matches in the knockout stages, their home ground instills fear in their opponents. There’s so much energy and special moments, and anything can happen there. Plus, in big matches, big players show up. These moments are made for those players who perform at their best in knockout stages, otherwise, it’s very tough.”
Real Madrid certainly has such big players. But does Arsenal, who have reached the Champions League final only once in their history, have anyone of that caliber?
“We do have those players. And in these big moments, the team needs them. We have to take those steps.”
