Gunners Dominate Champions League Quarter-Final as Rice’s Brilliance Leaves Madrid Boss Searching for Answers
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti delivered a frank assessment of his team’s surprising 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, admitting his side “dropped off mentally and physically” in a performance that left him deeply disappointed.
The Gunners seized control of the tie with two breathtaking free-kicks from Declan Rice before Mikel Merino capped off a dominant display with a clinical finish, leaving Madrid with a mountain to climb in the second leg at the Bernabéu.
Ancelotti, usually measured in defeat, didn’t hold back in his post-match comments, calling it a “tough loss” for the reigning European champions. “We weren’t expecting this,” he confessed. “The team looked solid and well-organised in the first half, but after the two set-piece goals, we fell apart. Mentally and physically, we just weren’t there.”
The Italian coach was particularly frustrated by his team’s lack of fight in the final half-hour. “The last 30 minutes were very poor,” he said. “We didn’t see the usual reaction from this team. Individually, players tried to fix things on their own, but collectively, we failed. Arsenal controlled the game, managed the result better, and simply outplayed us.”
Praising Mikel Arteta’s side, Ancelotti acknowledged Arsenal’s superior intensity. “They showed a better attitude, more quality, and impressive fitness levels today. They did a lot of things better than us, and we have to be honest about that.”
Despite the heavy defeat, the Madrid boss found some positives in the opening hour. “We weren’t too bad for the first 60 minutes—the first half was actually pretty good. But football is about lasting the full 90, and in the end, we collapsed.”
With the second leg looming, Ancelotti faces a daunting task to inspire a historic comeback. But after such a deflating performance, even he seemed at a loss for words. “It’s hard to explain,” he admitted. “We have to look at ourselves and find a way to respond.”
For now, Arsenal head home with one foot in the semi-finals—and Real Madrid left searching for answers.
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