Pau Quesada, the head coach of Real Madrid, confidently addressed his team’s upcoming challenge as they prepare to face Arsenal, the defending champions, in the fourth round of the Champions League. Set to play in London, Quesada emphasized that his squad approaches the match without any insecurities or complexes.
“The Real Madrid had never won in France, but we did it for the first time in Paris. We’re here at the home of the European champions, but we’re coming without any complexes. We want to be ourselves and impose the rhythm and intensity we are accustomed to. Arsenal is a demanding opponent, and we must neutralize many of their strengths with our own capabilities. We don’t think too much about where we are playing,” he stated, as reported by the club’s official website.
Quesada noted the impressive offensive capabilities of his team, mentioning that 20 different players have already scored this season. “We generate many opportunities and want to be increasingly effective in the opposing area. Our identity pushes us to be the protagonists. In Europe, that’s what is expected from us,” he explained.
He also outlined the strategies his team would employ against Arsenal: “We are performing well both in the league and in the Champions League, and tomorrow we aim to continue that trend in a match where controlling their offensive play is vital as Arsenal is a very dynamic team. We want to be dynamic, aggressive in our pressing, and avoid being forced into a deep block. When we have the ball, we want to be protagonists and find spaces to exploit.”
On Arsenal, Quesada shared his thoughts: “They are a very dynamic team. Their performances against Lyon and Bayern were strong, even if the results suggest otherwise. They do many things well with the ball and press high, making them a well-rounded team. They’ve played excellently and, while they’ve suffered from a lack of efficiency, I am confident they will achieve their objectives.”
He also highlighted the resilience of his squad, saying, “To compete in all competitions, we must have the ability to bounce back. The players are intelligent, and with a day on the field, we can prepare well for the match. We need to focus on ourselves rather than the opponent. We know Arsenal is a tough adversary, but we must concentrate on our game. We are used to playing every three days, and we have a broad squad to make it work.”
Filippa Angeldahl, the Swedish midfielder, also participated in the press conference and expressed her anticipation for the match. “It’s going to be a good game between two strong teams. We know each other well, and it’s going to be challenging. We feel good, even if we haven’t achieved the results we wanted, but we have a lot to prove. We are working hard to improve and are eager to showcase that tomorrow,” she stated.
Angeldahl acknowledged Arsenal’s formidable presence, saying, “They have very good players, and we need to be cautious. They’ve shown what they are capable of doing. They won the Champions League final, demonstrating their strength and quality.”
With both teams demonstrating commitment and ambition ahead of this crucial matchup, fans can expect an exciting clash on the pitch as Real Madrid aims to assert their dominance while Arsenal looks to maintain their status as champions.