Trent Alexander-Arnold moved into the quarter finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night as he helped Real Madrid cruise past Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate
Trent Alexander-Arnold speaking post-match
Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke after Real Madrid beat Manchester City(Image: TNT Sports)
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Trent Alexander-Arnold admitted he took extra pleasure in Real Madrid reaching the quarter finals of the Champions League because he was able to get payback on Manchester City. Real cruised into the last eight 5-1 on aggregate with a second successive win over Pep Guardiola's side on Tuesday night.
Vinicius Junior scored twice to seal a 2-1 win on the night in Manchester after Bernardo Silva was sent off in the 20th minute. Erling Haaland's goal proved scant consolation for City, who were facing a massive uphill task after losing the first leg 3-0 in Spain due to a Fede Valverde hat-trick.
In many ways it was business as usual for Real, who have won six of the last 12 Champions League titles. But it is a new experience for Alexander-Arnold, who is playing in the competition's knockout stages for the first time with Real following his move from Liverpool last summer.
Alexander-Arnold won the Champions League, two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Club World Cup during his time at Liverpool. But his former club also finished as runners-up to City twice in the Premier League during his time there, and the right-back therefore revelled in getting one over on his old rivals on Tuesday night.
"This is the most important stage of the season," he said. "Big matches are coming one after another, and each one feels like a final. The expectation at Real Madrid is to go all the way in the Champions League and win. It’s built into the very core of the club. We thrive on these expectations, and it helps us bring out our best qualities.
"It was nice to get one over Manchester City, they've snatched a few medals from me and Liverpool. You know going up against Manchester City is always going to be tough, so we're proud of the performance."
It hasn't all been plain sailing for Alexander-Arnold since he left Liverpool for Madrid, with injuries limiting him to 20 appearances in all competitions. But the 27-year-old has now settled into the side under manager Alvaro Arbeloa and feels comfortable in his new surroundings.
Trent Alexander-Arnold applauds fans
Trent Alexander-Arnold has settled into life at Real Madrid(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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"I knew what I was getting into, it's a completely different culture, language and style of football," he said. "Everyone's made me feel really at home from minute one, and encouraged me to be myself.
"The manager has filled me with a lot of confidence so hopefully I can stay fit and push on. He's enabled me to play the way I can."
Real's reward for beating City is likely a tie against Bayern Munich in the quarter finals, with the German giants holding a 6-1 lead over Atalanta ahead of their second leg on Wednesday night.
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