Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham stressed that he was surprised by Declan Rice’s free kick goal against his team on his first leg in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Recall that Arsenal had a great performance during the Champions League, beating Spanish rivals 3-0 at the UAE Stadium and entering the second leg with confidence.
Rice did not record any goals from a free kick before the first leg tie. However, he opened a well-positioned free kick on the wall in the 58th minute, surprised many by opening the score. Just 12 minutes later, he scored again, lifting the ball to the top corner, which attracted the attention of fans and teammates.
Bellingham, who joined Rice in England National Team, admitted the unexpected nature of his teammates’ performance.
“Did Arsenal surprise us? Declan Rice’s free kick was surprising, I haven’t seen him do this before (laughs). It’s fair to him.” Bellingham told reporters in the second leg of the Champions League, scheduled to start at 8 p.m. on April 16.
Rice and Bellingham teamed up 32 times in various matches of the three Lions. This season, Rice has made 44 appearances, contributing 7 goals and 9 assists.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea winger Joe Cole expressed strong confidence in the prospects of Paris Saint-Germain to win a prestigious trophy this season. Cole believes the team has made good progress and points to their recent achievements in the semifinals.
PSG eliminated Aston Villa with a total score of 5-4, securing its position in the past four games. They won the first leg 3-1 in Paris but faced a challenging second leg, losing 3-2 at Villa Park.
Now, they will face Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semifinals, while Barcelona will match Inter or Bayern Munich after defeating Dortmund.
Cole said of the TNT movement: “We all remember the PSG aspect a few years ago. They won the league title, but success in a tournament like this requires a different approach. People who attribute to PSG recognize the need for change. They are heading in a positive direction and I really believe they have a real chance to win it.
