Trent responds to doubters after Real Madrid thrashes Man City 3-0 in UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg.
On 12 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Trent Alexander-Arnold acknowledged that Real Madrid used their status as the "underdog" against Manchester City as motivation. After the 3-0 victory, he said, "Who said we would be crushed so badly?"
Although Real Madrid were missing key players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrigo, and were clearly considered underdogs before the match, they delivered a sharp performance in the first 45 minutes. Valverde starred by scoring a beautiful first-half hat-trick, making Pep Guardiola's team face a tough challenge if they hope to reach the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Trent, who delivered one of his best performances since joining Liverpool, managed to control Jérémy Doku and City's attacking line so effectively that the visitors barely found any openings against Madrid's defense.
Trent said, “When the draw was made, there was a lot of talk, and the same happened before this game. Especially looking at recent form and results, many expected us to be hammered tonight.”
“No matter if you have injured players or are missing some key figures, this competition means a great deal to the club, and as players, we all understand that very well.”
“We executed the plan perfectly in the first half. Many might see them as favorites based on past performances, but this is the Champions League — anyone can beat anyone. We knew our plan, followed it, and finished our chances decisively.”
“When you play for a club like this, you have to perform to standard with no excuses. The expectation is to win, so our mindset is to go all the way and secure victory, no matter who the opponent is.”