Carlo Ancelotti offered his explanation of the debacle to the Movistar microphones:
"For an hour the team was doing well and then we paid for the goals they scored from set pieces, the team fell mentally, it's a tough defeat. Especially because of what we weren't able to do in the second half, when in the first we did well. In the return leg, we have to do everything to try to recover."
"We lacked soccer, the team fell mentally after the two goals. Before the two goals, the match was balanced, they were managing the ball, not looking much between the lines, which they did after the goal. We have to look ahead, sacrifice, think about what we can do, do it all together and we have to do it once more."
"Very complicated but we have to try from the first minute to the last at the Bernabéu."
Courtois: "They're Unnecessary Fouls Where There's No Danger"
"I think Arsenal is a strong team at home, they press well, play well between the lines. In the first half, we held up well, we created danger on the counter. In the second half, we forgot to play soccer, I wouldn't say panic but we weren't calm with the ball."
"They score two great free-kick goals and the third, and we didn't have a good reaction, 3-0 is difficult but we know that at home we are strong with our people. They have to believe in this team and from the first minute, we will give everything to turn this result around. We have to correct the mistakes and try to score one or two quick goals, I think it's possible."
"The strength of the other team, which positioned itself well. When in the first half we came out well from the pressure and had possession, that didn't work for us in the second half, we have to improve and learn from that."
"Obviously, I knew I was going to have work, it's a team that attacks well and we have to do well. The first one I thought I had set the wall well, I always put one more man past the ball so that curve doesn't pass."
"Maybe I should have put one more, which I did... In the second, he couldn't hit it better, they're unnecessary fouls where there's no danger, the first one goes outside the goal, the second one too. I'll work on the return leg to not concede those goals."
Asencio: "There's a Lot of Room for Improvement"
Asencio, on Movistar:
"It was a complicated match, we weren't at 100% and there's a lot of room for improvement and we will work on it."
"We come back as a team, working hard, changing the attitude. But if there's any team in the world that can turn this around, it's us. I'm convinced and the team is that we will turn it around."
"Things didn't go as we worked on, but we take the positives we can rescue from today and there's a week of work left to arm ourselves and be able to turn it around at home."
"We're angry, it wasn't what we expected, but convinced that we are capable of turning it around, we are Real Madrid, positive mindset and let's go for it."
Lucas Vázquez: "We Can Turn It Around"
Lucas Vázquez dared to give explanations at the end of the match on Movistar:
-"We weren't good, Arsenal played a great match, they had chances, they knew how to press us, we had some isolated plays."
-"In the second half, we didn't know how to take a step forward, we lacked continuity in the game, to have more possession of the ball and in the end, we couldn't play a good match."
-"It's complicated, of course, but if there's a team in the world that can turn this around, it's us, in our stadium, with our fans, it's going to be a different match from this one and together we will get through it."
-"We're not used to two consecutive defeats, we just have to work, trust in ourselves more than ever, this team deserves the trust from everyone and we will trust in it."
Álvaro Benito: "With Top-Level Teams, It's Not Enough"
Alvaro Benito was blunt in his judgments on Cadena Ser:
-"We have what Madrid has been this season in one match. It's not enough. Madrid has played all year on the inspiration of those up front."
"With top-level teams, it's not enough. You don't have any tools. You don't defend with solvency, this has been happening all year."
But in the 50th minute of the match, with the score at 0-0, the same Álvaro Benito said:
"The match is there to be won, I insist. As soon as Madrid makes a play..."
Roncero: "Apathy and Negligence of Some Players"
"Bernabéu is above the apathy and negligence of some of its players"
"The team in the second half was lamentable"
Arteta: "Three and a Half Years Without Scoring a Free-Kick Goal"
"I think we've been at a very high level, otherwise there's no way to score three goals against Madrid. Collectively, we've been at a very high level. They're magical minutes produced by the players and what Declan did is amazing."
"We hadn't scored a direct free-kick goal since September 2021, it comes from a player who had never scored from a free-kick and two come on the same night."
"We will have to raise the level at the Bernabéu and show the spirit we've shown as a team, now it's time to take another step and do it like this."