Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that his team simply did not do enough to overturn their Champions League quarter-final deficit against Arsenal.
Coming into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu trailing 3-0, the Spanish giants needed a dramatic comeback to keep their European hopes alive. However, Bukayo Saka extended Arsenal’s aggregate lead in the second half before Vinícius Júnior pulled one back almost immediately to offer a glimmer of hope.
That hope was extinguished in stoppage time when Gabriel Martinelli broke free to score a late winner, sealing a 2-1 victory on the night and a 5-1 aggregate triumph for the Gunners.
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti conceded that his side were second best across the two legs and praised Arsenal for their performance.
“The team tried. We weren’t able to change things around. Arsenal deserve it,” Ancelotti said.
Reflecting on Madrid’s long-standing success in the competition, the Italian tactician acknowledged the emotional swing that often accompanies football at this level.
“There are two sides to football: the happy side that we experienced for several years, now it’s our turn to experience the sad side,” he added. “We’ve come a fantastic way over the years. Let’s see what happens next year.”
With the defeat, Madrid bow out of the Champions League while Arsenal march on to face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
