Trent Alexander-Arnold believes Real Madrid proved doubters wrong with first leg win

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/valverde-federico/nscfER6B/"]Federico Valverde[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=fP5Co3V6"]netted a first-half hat-trick[/a] for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Madrid[/a] to secure an impressive last-16 first leg victory.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arbeloa-alvaro/CO9bjrLo/"]Alvaro Arbeloa[/a]'s side have been inconsistent over the past few weeks but delivered their best display of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu.[/p][p]"[b](It was a) massive performance, I think a lot of the noise when the draw happened and then leading up to this game,[/b]" [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alexander-arnold-trent/CEVJy6Bc/"]Alexander-Arnold[/a] told TNT Sports.[/p][p]"[b]Especially (given) the way that we've been playing the last few games, and the results we've had, a lot of people just expected us to get battered tonight[/b].[/p][p]"[b]It just shows the mentality, it doesn't matter what injuries you've got, what players out, this competition means a lot to the club[/b]."[/p][embed guid="6f9568a7-6ff0-448b-a081-88d9d50f49ea" url="https://x.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/2031858122180927746?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Madrid were without key players including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodrygo/zPUyR5Up/"]Rodrygo Goes[/a] among others, but Valverde's treble secured the record 15-time winners a convincing victory.[/p][p]"[b]I'm very happy for Valverde,"[/b] Arbeloa told reporters after the victory.[/p][p]"[b]I think he is the Juanito of the 21st century... he is a perfect representation of Real Madrid.[/b]"[/p][p]Juanito, a Madrid icon in the 1980s, was known for his fighting spirit and character.[/p]