Real Madrid’s victory over Manchester City gave them a passage to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
At one of the toughest venues in Europe, the Spanish giants showed composure, quality, and belief, with Aurelien Tchouameni playing a key role in midfield and contributing with an assist for Vinicius Jr.
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After the match, the French midfielder first reflected on the difficulty of playing at the Etihad and how important it was to come away with two wins across the tie.
He stressed that beating a team of City’s level is never straightforward and requires consistency over both legs.
“We know this is a tough place to play. We play here every season, so we know we’re up against a top-tier team, but I think we’ve done a good job with two wins against them.
“It’s not easy, but we’ve done it. We have to keep our confidence, keep working, and if we play at our level, we’re going to achieve great things this season.”
Silencing the doubters
Tchouameni then addressed the story around Manchester City being the favourites heading into the tie.
Tchouameni registered an assist against Man City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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He made it clear that external opinions did not affect the dressing room, as the players were focused on executing their own game plan.
“The truth is, everyone has their own opinion. When we watched the match against Manchester, we said we had to play at our level as a team.
“We have incredible players, and when we play at our level, we can beat any team in the world.
“We have to keep working and improving, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Praise for Arbeloa
The midfielder also took time to highlight the role of manager Alvaro Arbeloa, particularly the trust he has placed in the squad since taking charge.
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According to Tchouameni, that confidence from the coach has translated directly into performances on the pitch.
“The coach has a lot of confidence in us, and we have confidence in him too, and that helps us feel confident on the field.
“Little by little, we’re seeing that we’re improving, and we have to keep it up.”
Tchouameni then compared the current setup under Arbeloa with the previous regime, acknowledging that while changes have been made, the objective remains the same.
Tchouameni has praised Arbeloa. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“The truth is that Xabi Alonso is an incredible coach, but Coach Arbeloa has his own ideas too.
“Some things have changed, but as a team, when we play at our best, we can achieve great things.
“We’ve done it in the past, and if we keep this up, we’ll do it again this season.”
Facing Man City
Looking back at the game itself, Tchouameni admitted that while the result was positive, there are still aspects that need refinement.
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He acknowledged that facing Manchester City inevitably means dealing with pressure and chances conceded.
“We know that when we play here, City will have a lot of chances.
“There are certainly things we need to improve, and we’ll review the video together as a team, but in the end, we won this match.
“We created a lot of chances too, and we have to keep going.”
On Vinicius and Mbappe
He then shifted focus to Vinicius Jr., who once again proved decisive in the final third.
Tchouameni emphasised how important the Brazilian is when performing at his highest level.
“We know Vinicius is one of the best, and when he plays at that level, it’s easier for us to win games.
“We have to keep this up together as a team, and we’re going to achieve great things this season.”
Vinicius scored two goals against City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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The midfielder also touched on Kylian Mbappe’s importance to the squad, pointing out how having key players available makes a significant difference.
“I’ve seen him play very well. He’s a key player for us, and as I said, when we have all the players in our squad, it’s easier to win games.”
Facing Bayern Munich
When asked directly about Real Madrid’s chances of going all the way in the competition, Tchouameni showed confidence without hesitation, reinforcing the club’s winning mentality.
“Why not? With Real Madrid, anything is possible. We’re going to work hard and believe in ourselves.”
Finally, he looked ahead to the next challenge, with a potential quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich.
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Tchouameni made it clear that from this stage onwards, every opponent will be of the highest quality.
“There are no easy quarterfinals. If we want to win this Champions League, we’re going to face top-level teams,” he concluded.
Source: Real Madrid official website
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