Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa appeared in a press conference following the 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The coach said: "Is it the best match since you took over Real Madrid? It was the match where we adhered the most to the plan we put in place. We were a team in every sense of the word, and that's what we need to win any match, whether against City or Elche. This is what I want the players to believe in. We must have a collective mentality and know what to do with the ball and without it. The players have exceptional quality, but they become better when they share one idea and execute it as happened today."

He added: "I am very happy for Valverde. I am very persistent with him, and I don't know if he will end up hating me because of the many pieces of advice I give him. He is the Juanito of the 21st century and represents Real Madrid in the best way. The night he had makes me very proud of him. It's a reward for all his sacrifices."

He continued: "Did you tactically outsmart Pep Guardiola? I can't even compare myself to Pep and what he has achieved and won. He is one of our greatest rivals. But every time we succeed in surpassing him, it magnifies the value of Real Madrid. What pleases me more is the commitment of the players, their effort, and their belief in the plan we put in place. We worked long days to prepare for the match, and everything we trained on appeared on the field."

He emphasized: "When you see the lineup Pep started with and the substitutions he made in the second half, you realize we are talking about one of the best teams in Europe. They have more than 20 great players at a very high level. As for us, we have many absences of important players who make a difference. But we are Real Madrid, capable of anything, and we are not less than any team. Everything I say I believe in, and today it showed that I might have been right."

Regarding Mendy's substitution: "It is still early to know the nature of his injury and whether he will be available for the return leg, but it is difficult for him to be ready for Tuesday's match. I thank Ferland for risking participation, but he is an exceptional player and has shown his great level."

He noted: "I am happy for the fans who deserved a night like this in the Champions League, and I think they enjoyed the City match a lot. I am also happy for the players because of all the pressure they bear. It may seem that we are celebrating now, but we still have 90 minutes of suffering in Manchester."

Regarding Vinicius' penalty and the penalty takers' order: "The taker is Vinicius. I am very happy with the reaction of the Bernabéu crowd and their applause for him despite missing the penalty."

He continued: "We played to win, and that is what Real Madrid always does. Winning may seem easy, but if there is a team that always finds it difficult to win, it is Real Madrid, because all opponents play against it with extra motivation."

He explained: "In what position did Valverde play today? Almost everywhere. We wanted him to be more aggressive and attack the spaces behind City's defense. If the defenders came out to face him, he and Vinicius could exploit the spaces. He also helped Trent a lot defensively and made a great effort. The advantage of having a player like him is that he can do many good things everywhere."

Regarding Courtois' saves: "I don't like comparisons, but I don't know if I've seen anything similar to Courtois. It's like having an extra chance in every match. We are lucky to have him in goal. With him, the opponent knows they must do something extraordinary and take almost impossible shots to score a goal."

Regarding Betaric's participation: "I understand that involving an 18-year-old player in such a confrontation may raise doubts. But the effort and commitment he provides are very great. The crowd gave him a deserved ovation. He represents the Real Madrid academy, and we must appreciate it more. It's important to have academy players in the dressing room who know what Real Madrid means."

He continued: "Could this match be a turning point? I am not a clairvoyant. I spoke with the players after the Getafe match about the movie (Groundhog Day), and none of them knew it. I am from a different generation. No one watched the movie (Trapped in Time). Asensio said it was released ten years before he was born. What I always repeat to them is that they are great players, but we must be a great team, knowing how to hurt the opponent and how to defend against their strengths. It's about being one team that fights and believes in the idea."

He continued: "Is there a similarity with the 2016 Champions League? Not at all. We only won one match. It's a great night for the Bernabéu and the players, but at this club, titles are celebrated, not victories that have not yet led us to anything. We have a very strong opponent, and if we relax a little, they will make us pay the price."

He concluded regarding the return leg: "We will analyze the match to see where they created danger. But the idea for me is the same: to fight in every minute from 1 to 90, to try to hurt them with the ball, and to look for the opponent's goal. It's unfortunate that we didn't score an additional goal, but the players played a great match. Now we have to rest and think about the Elche match."