Alexander-Arnold: Madrid Proved Critics Wrong

Trent Alexander-Arnold during Madrid Vs City clash at Bernabeu

Trent Alexander-Arnold says Real Madrid proved doubters wrong with win over Man City. Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-0 at Santiago Bernabeu, Federico Valverde scores hat-trick.

Real Madrid win first leg 3-0, Valverde stars in Champions League last-16 clash...

Trent Alexander-Arnold says Real Madrid silenced doubters with their 3-0 win over Manchester City. He thinks they proved people wrong, who expected them to get “battered.”

Federico Valverde's first-half hat-trick sealed the impressive win for Madrid, putting them in a great position for the second leg.

Alvaro Arbeloa's side have been inconsistent over the past few weeks, but they delivered their best display of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu, showing the quality and firepower that makes them a formidable opponent.

“(It was a) massive performance, I think a lot of the noise when the draw happened and then leading up to this game,” Alexander-Arnold told TNT Sports.

“Especially (given) 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.

“It just shows the mentality, it doesn't matter what injuries you've got, what players out, this competition means a lot to the club.”

Madrid were missing big guns like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes, but Valverde's hat-trick stole the show.

 

"He's the most underrated footballer on the planet and has been for years."

Trent Alexander-Arnold is reacts to Fede Valverde's Man of the Match performance against Man City 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sh7PKGFuA3

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2026

Federico Valverde's treble was enough to secure a convincing win for the 15-time champions, proving they're still a force to be reckoned with even without their star players.

“I'm very happy for Valverde,” Arbeloa told reporters after the victory.

“I think he is the Juanito of the 21st century... he is a perfect representation of Real Madrid.”

Juanito, a Madrid icon in the 1980s, was known for his fighting spirit and character.