Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that Declan Rice’s free-kicks were the turning point in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg tie against Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Rice struck two free-kicks in quick succession during the second half to put the Gunners firmly in control at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal later added a third goal through Mikel Merino’s sweeping finish with just 14 minutes remaining.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Ancelotti praised Arsenal’s performance and acknowledged that they were the superior side.
“The result means that Arsenal were much better than us,” Ancelotti said.
“The game was a bit different. For 60 minutes the game was level, and then they shoot two fantastic free-kicks. The game, it changes.
“Now it will be very difficult in the second leg. But we have to try.
“The reaction, mentally we went down. We had a problem in the final 30 minutes of the game.”
The second leg will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid will need a strong performance to overturn the deficit.