LONDON, England – Arsenal don dey shine for UEFA Champions League as dem knock out Real Madrid with 5-1 aggregate win. Coach Mikel Arteta no fit hide him joy as him praise him players after dem secure di semi-final spot against PSG.
Arteta talk to di media after di match, say, “I no don feel prouder pass dis time. Dis semi-final na our third time for history, and di way we perform no be small matter. We don face plenty injuries, but di character we show na wetin make dis night special. Di whole team act well tonight.”
When dem ask am about Declan Rice, wey play important role for di match, Arteta respond, “Rice show him power and presence today. Him lead di team well without di ball, and him contribution no fit underestimate. Na why we dey need players wey go step up in such moments.”
Di coach also talk about di believe and conviction wey di team don show, saying, “Di feeling wey we get na reality. Di players truly transmit di readiness wey I dey feel. We dey prepared to compete against anybody, and we must carry dis momentum go forward.”
Arteta acknowledge di pressure of di match, saying, “We sabi say dis na big challenge. Dis result fit help di team grow from challengers to winners. We don show say we fit compete with di best, and I go give credit to di players for di maturity dem show.”
When e talk about Bukayo Saka wey miss penalty give di opposing team, di coach say, “Saka show him character. Him miss di penalty, but di way wey him come back play na important lesson for di team. Him no let di miss affect him, and him keep di focus.”
On di evolution of Arsenal, Arteta reflect, “Five years ago, if you tell person say we go dey semi-final after facing Real Madrid, dem go laugh. Di turnaround wey di club don make no be small, and di ambition wey dis team get dey strong. We dey go for more success, no be lie.”
Arteta talk about di high expectations for him as coach, saying, “E dey reassuring for me to experience dis kind games. Sometimes we go win, sometimes we go lose. I dey critical of myself too, even as proud I dey when I see di team convinced say we fit do am.”
Di coach also mention di chaos of di match and di mental preparation for di players, “We don prepare dem, but to face di reality for field na different matter. Di players manage am clever enough, and dat na wetin help us overcome di game challenges.”
Arteta don thank di fans wey show dem support throughout di tournament. “Di atmosphere wey di fans create na incredible. We dey work to make dem happy, and I hope dem feel proud of dis team. Now, we dey prepare for di semi-final against PSG, a team we sabi well.”
Finally, Arteta mention di historic achievement of Arsenal under him, say, “I no sabi say we don beat dem for here twice before. Na great feeling to be part of history. We go work hard for di next tie.”
