Alan Shearer blasts Real Madrid star after shocking defeat to Arsenal in Champions League
'Ridiculous.'
Alan Shearer branded a Real Madrid player ‘stupid’ after the Champions League holders’ shock defeat to Arsenal.
Real Madrid will need to produce a miracle to defend their Champions League crown after losing 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
After a goalless first half, two sensational Declan Rice free-kicks stunned Real Madrid and put Arsenal in a commanding position in the quarter-final tie.
Mikel Merino added a third for the Gunners and Real Madrid’s night got even worse in injury-time when Eduardo Camavinga was sent off.
Already on a yellow card, Camavinga picked up another when he delayed the restart by kicking the ball away.
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‘How stupid is that,’ Premier League record goalscorer and ex-England striker Shearer said on Amazon Prime. ‘How riduclous.
‘I understand the frustration and I understand they’ve taken a beating tonight but that just sums up Real Madrid, it really does.’
Former England defender Matt Upson also criticised Camavinga, saying on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Talk about a loss of discipline. Right here is a prime example.
‘Carlo Ancelotti looks the other way as Eduardo Camavinga walks down the tunnel. It is a head loss moment and the referee has no option but to send him off.’
Arsenal hero Rice said his stunning performance had not ‘sunk in’ after the game but insisted the tie was not over.
‘I don’t know whether it will ever sink in,’ the England midfielder said. ‘I’ve gone back to my phone then and it’s gone crazy.
‘To score my first free-kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one. I just had the confidence. I’m speechless really.
‘To beat Real Madrid in this competition. It’s a big night for us. But nothing’s done yet. The manager just said that then.
‘Even if we’re 3-0 up the individual quality they have is scary. At the Bernabeu special things happen for them. We want to be in the Champions League semi-finals.’
Asked about his first free-kick, which looked set to be a cross before Rice whipped a strike around the wall, he added: ‘We were saying to cross it.
‘When they were over a little bit we saw the space Bukayo said if you feel it, go for it. I thought I’m going to take this.
‘It didn’t make sense from that angle to cross the ball. It would have to be a delicate pass. And when I saw the wall. It didn’t make sense to cross.
‘You know what, I’m happy I took it because it was magic. When you score a goal it’s the best feeling in the world.’
Arsenal will take a three-goal lead to the Bernabeu next Wednesday as they look to book their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Should they progress, Mikel Arteta’s side will face the winner of the Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa tie for a place in the Champions League final.
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