Arbeloa: “Valverde is everything a Real Madrid player should be”

Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media after his side’s stunning win over Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg.

It’s a great result for the team... “I’m very happy with how much the Bernabéu and the players enjoyed it. They deserve it after all the suffering and hard work. It was clear that, from the outside, there wasn’t much confidence in this team. We’ve shown that we are Real Madrid. We should never count ourselves out.”

What was Real Madrid’s game plan? “We knew very well how City play, how Pep works, and what he’s looking for. We closed down many passing lanes and tried not to press high up the pitch, which is what they want in order to get behind you. We also wanted to hurt them with the ball. If we turned them around, we knew we could damage them, and that’s what happened.”

What do you have to say about Valverde? “It doesn’t matter where you put him. I almost get tired of talking about him. He’s the Juanito of the 21st century. Everything a Real Madrid player should be is Valverde. He deserves a night like this.”

And the missed penalty? “I really liked the reaction of the Bernabéu crowd. If anyone knows how to recover from setbacks, it’s Vinicius.”

How is Mendy? He was taken off early... “He’s injured. It doesn’t look good, but I appreciate his effort. We took a risk by playing him in two consecutive matches after such a long time out. I took that risk and I’m grateful for his commitment. It’s wonderful to be able to coach him.”

What did you say to Thiago after he was taken off? “I congratulated him on his performance in the round of 16 against City. We have to value academy players. They didn’t cost 30, 40, or 50 million, but they feel a connection to Real Madrid and they have the ability. It’s a source of pride to see them compete, to see them play, and to show the world what they are capable of.”

What are your thoughts on the second leg? “If anything is far away, it’s qualification. We know the kind of team City are and what awaits us in Manchester. I already said Pep would surprise us with something, and he has. He’ll do it again in the return leg.”

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