Alexander-Arnold says Real Madrid drew motivation from underdog tag in 3-0 win over Manchester City

Real Madrid turn pre-match noise into motivation

Trent Alexander-Arnold said Real Madrid used the outside expectation that they would be overpowered by Manchester City as a source of motivation, after a 3-0 win that left the Spanish side in control of their Champions League tie.

Speaking after the match, Alexander-Arnold framed the performance as a response to the narrative that had built up around the fixture. Real, he suggested, were aware of the talk around their recent form and results, and the sense that City would dominate. Instead, he said, the team’s mentality and ability to follow a plan under pressure shaped the outcome.

“There was a lot of noise when the draw happened and then leading up to this game,” Alexander-Arnold said. “Especially the way that we’ve been playing the last few games and the results we’ve had — a lot of people just expected us to get battered tonight but it just shows the mentality.”

His message was not simply that Real had produced a good night, but that they had embraced the challenge of being labelled underdogs. The result, built on a ruthless first half, has left City with what Alexander-Arnold described as a “mountain to climb” if they are to reach the quarter-finals.

Valverde’s first-half hat-trick sets the tone

The decisive figure was Federico Valverde, whose first-half hat-trick delivered what Alexander-Arnold called a stunning victory. The midfielder’s three goals arrived before the interval, and the manner of Real’s opening 45 minutes was described as clinical.

Real went into the game as clear second-favourites, but their first-half execution flipped expectations. Valverde “stole the show” at the Bernabeu, producing what was later described as arguably his best goal of the night to complete his treble and put the hosts “in dreamland”.

That third goal, in particular, captured the sharpness of Real’s approach. Valverde controlled the ball inside the penalty area with an outstanding touch, flicked it past Marc Guehi, and then finished beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had rushed out to block. The strike sealed a first career hat-trick and underlined how efficiently Real punished the moments they created.

Injuries and absences did not change the expectations inside the dressing room

Real Madrid’s performance came despite notable absences. The team were missing Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, among others, yet Alexander-Arnold argued that such circumstances do not alter the standards demanded at the club, particularly in this competition.

“It doesn’t matter what injuries you’ve got, what players out, this competition means a lot to the club,” he said.

For Alexander-Arnold, the match served as a reminder of how Real Madrid view the Champions League: as a tournament in which the expectation is to win, regardless of context. He stressed that the club does not accept excuses, and that the mindset is to keep pushing through whoever stands in the way.

“You need to perform, especially when you play for a club like this. The expectation is there’s no excuses. You have to win,” he said. “So our mentality is to go all the way and win the game when the competition no matter who’s in front of us.”

“Anyone can beat anyone”: the game plan and the first-half execution

Alexander-Arnold repeatedly returned to the importance of preparation and discipline. While acknowledging that many people had viewed City as favourites based on form and results, he argued that the Champions League frequently defies assumptions.

“People will say that they were favourites and going off results and the way that both teams have been playing, it could have been true,” he said. “But when in the Champions League anyone can beat anyone. We know our game plan, we executed it, and scored our goals very, very ruthlessly.”

In his telling, Real Madrid’s first-half performance was not an accident or a brief surge of momentum. It was the product of a plan carried out precisely, with the kind of finishing that can decide elite ties. The ruthlessness he referenced was reflected in the scoreline: three goals and no response from City before the break.

Alexander-Arnold’s role: defensive work against City’s attack

Alongside Valverde’s headline-grabbing hat-trick, Alexander-Arnold’s own performance was highlighted as one of his best nights since joining from Liverpool. He was credited with shutting down Jeremy Doku and limiting a City attack that struggled to open up Real’s defensive unit.

City’s difficulties in breaking through were an important part of the story. Real not only took their chances going forward, but also controlled the spaces that City typically exploit. Alexander-Arnold’s defensive contribution was singled out as a key element of that structure, supporting a broader unit that remained hard to unlock.

No early celebrations: Real insist the tie is not over

Despite the commanding advantage, Alexander-Arnold was careful to stress that the contest remains alive. His comments centred on the danger of treating a first-leg lead as a finished job, especially given the history of unpredictable encounters between these sides.

“It’s only half-time,” he said. “If you are celebrating at half-time and thinking the game is done, your mindset is completely wrong.”

He added that the club’s internal message is that nothing has been settled. With a second leg still to come, Real intend to approach the return fixture in the same manner, rather than simply protecting what they have.

“The whole club knows this isn’t finished. We have seen crazy games between these two clubs before, so we can’t rule out anything,” Alexander-Arnold said. “We don’t take anything for granted and will go to the Etihad and try to win there as well.”

Praise for Valverde: “the most underrated footballer on the planet”

Alexander-Arnold’s post-match reflections also included a lengthy tribute to Valverde, whose three goals were the obvious headline but whose overall contribution, in Alexander-Arnold’s view, has been underappreciated for years.

“I’m running out of words for him as a player now,” he said. “Even as a Liverpool player, I’ve admired him, and I think he is undoubtedly the most underrated footballer on the planet.”

He described Valverde as the type of player who elevates a team through consistency and work rate, not only through moments in front of goal. The midfielder, he said, covers “every blade of grass” and offers teammates a reliability that is invaluable at the highest level.

“I think when you play with him, you understand how much he gives to a team. He covers every blade of grass, he gives us all his,” Alexander-Arnold said. “I think as a player, the best attribute you can have is that your teammates can always count on you. And he’s always there. He never lets us down.”

In Alexander-Arnold’s assessment, the hat-trick may prompt wider recognition, but it does not represent a sudden rise in quality. Instead, he argued, Valverde has belonged in the top bracket of midfielders for a long time.

“I think maybe people might start talking about it now, but I think for many years he’s been in that top bracket of midfielders,” he said.

What the 3-0 scoreline means heading into the second leg

Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory places them in a strong position, but Alexander-Arnold’s insistence that it is “only half-time” captures the approach the team say they will take into the return match. The immediate implication is clear: Manchester City must find a way to overturn a heavy deficit to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

From Real’s perspective, the first leg offered a statement about mentality as much as tactics. They entered as second-favourites, missing several high-profile players, and facing a wave of expectation that City would overpower them. Instead, they produced a first half that combined disciplined defending, sharp execution, and ruthless finishing.

The night belonged to Valverde for his hat-trick, and to a defensive unit that left City struggling for openings. Yet Alexander-Arnold’s comments suggested the performance was also rooted in a broader belief: that, for Real Madrid, the Champions League demands a standard that does not bend to circumstance.

Key points from Alexander-Arnold’s comments

• He said Real Madrid used the underdog label and pre-match “noise” as motivation.
• He stressed that injuries and missing players do not change expectations at the club.
• He credited the first-half execution of the game plan and “ruthless” finishing.
• He highlighted the Champions League’s unpredictability, saying “anyone can beat anyone.”
• He warned against celebrating too early, calling the tie “only half-time” ahead of the Etihad second leg.
• He praised Federico Valverde as “undoubtedly the most underrated footballer on the planet,” citing his work rate and reliability.

With the second leg still to come, Real Madrid’s message, at least publicly, is one of focus rather than celebration. The first step has been emphatic, but Alexander-Arnold’s closing emphasis was that the job is not complete until the tie is finished.