UEFA Champions League: 'Upset' Carlo Ancelotti laments Real Madrid defeat to Arsenal in quarter-finals
ByOli Gent
Published 17/04/2025 at 09:04 GMT+1
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said that Arsenal deserved to progress into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after Mikel Arteta's side won 2-1 on the night in the second leg of their quarter-final. The Gunners recorded a 5-1 aggregate scoreline to set up a last-four encounter with Barcelona, who just about avoided a miraculous Borussia Dortmund comeback to progress.
Ancelotti admits Arsenal 'deserved to win' as he offers 'no excuses' for Real exit
Video credit: TNT Sports
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said there are "no excuses" for his side’s defeat to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
The holders were beaten 3-0 in the first leg by Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, before losing 2-1 at home in the return to round off a heavy 5-1 aggregate loss.
On Wednesday night, Thibaut Courtois denied Bukayo Saka from the penalty spot in the first half, with the England winger attempting a nonchalant clip down the middle, but Saka would have the last laugh, netting the opening goal of the encounter on 65 minutes to extend Arsenal’s aggregate advantage.
Vinicius Junior capitalised on a William Saliba mistake two minutes later to equalise, but Gabriel Martinelli put a final dagger in Madrid hearts with an injury-time winner on the counter-attack.
Ancelotti emphasised the importance of the Champions League to Los Blancos, but admitted that Arsenal were "better than us" on both nights.
"Sad, of course," Ancelotti reflected on TNT Sports.
"In this competition, that was really important. We have to analyse both games. We tried to put more pressure on this game.
"It was difficult. Arsenal defended really well, they were really compact. They were really strong and compact to [qualify], and I wish them the best.
"No excuses. In the two games, they were better than us, that happens sometimes when you can’t be superior to the opponent. That can happen.
"We are upset, of course, this is a setback. But this is football. This is the epic part. We’ve had a lot of epic moments in the past, and tonight, we have to manage the setbacks of football.
"They were better, they had more intensity than us, they deserved to win."
Arsenal advance into the last four for the first time since the 2008/09 season, where they were defeated by Manchester United.
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Keown: Arsenal 'a real step up' from last season as Saka showed plenty of 'character'
Video credit: TNT Sports
They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the penultimate stage, with Luis Enrique’s side having already slain two Premier League outfits in the knockout phase, Liverpool and more recently, Aston Villa.
The first leg of that last-four encounter will be played in north London on April 29, with the return at the Parc des Princes on May 7.
Stream the 2024-25 Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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