Declan Rice is not certain whether his two free-ik goals against Real Madrid will ever sink after he has put Arsenal on the edge of the semi-final of the Champions League.
Rice found the top right corner with two Dead-Ball attempts in the second half, after which Mikel Merino added another goal when Arsenal won the quarterfinals on Tuesday on Tuesday.
He became the first player in the history of the Champions League who scored two direct free-t-goals in a knock-out-phase match, while it was only the fifth time that a player had scored more than one in the same game (also Cristiano Ronaldo, Hakim Ziyech, Neymar and riving).
Only three Arsenal players had previously scored a direct free kick in the Champions League-Alberto Mendez, Thierry Henry three times and Bukayo Saka.
After the game with Amazon Prime Rice said: “I don't know if it will ever sink. I went back to my phone and it went crazy!
“To score my first free kick in a game like this was special. When I got the second, I just had the confidence. I am speechless. To defeat Real Madrid in this competition; it's a big night for us.”
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Rice revealed that he would originally cross the ball from the first free kick, on the advice of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
The international English international said: “We said they had to cross it. When the wall was a bit over, we saw the space and Bukayo said:” If you feel it, go for it. ”
“I thought:” I'm going to take this “. When you score a goal, this is the best feeling in the world. It was not logical from that perspective to cross the ball. It should be a delicate pass. I am glad I took it because it was magical.”
Although Jover was seen who made a whip gesture for the free kick, Arteta was happy to honor him for the goal.
“He can claim it if he wants to, it doesn't matter,” said the Gunners. “It's incredible! If there is a player who can do it, how clean he hits it, it is declan.
“But you have to do it at the highest level, against one of the best keepers in the world. It's great.”
Madrid has never returned from three goals to win a Champions League -similar game, but Rice does not accept anything for the Santiago Bernabeu for the second stage next Wednesday.
“As the manager just said, even when we are 3-0 up, the individual quality they have is scary,” he added. “At the Bernabeu there are special things for them. We want to be in the semi -final of the Champions League.”