Arteta said: “It’s one of the most important nights of my career. I thought about my wife, my children, and my family, because they heard all week about the awe of this stadium and what could happen here. I am proud of what the players delivered and happy for everyone who came to support us. There is a lot of hunger and desire around this club.”
He continued: “This is the first time I’ve been on the bench in this stadium, and I really felt Real Madrid’s ability to create chaos, but we controlled the flow of the match very well.”
He added: “Merino has adapted excellently to the team and has provided us with a lot of leadership and discipline. He offers us things that weren’t there before and performs unfamiliar roles for him, but he masters them with professionalism.”
When asked about the penalty missed by Bukayo Saka, Arteta jokingly replied: “I had the urge to slap him, but he made the decision and that’s normal. What worried me was the psychological impact it would have on him, but I’m happy with how he responded and regained his balance.”
In conclusion of his statements, Arteta revealed a special gesture he made on the morning of the match: “This morning I called Pep Guardiola because if I’m here now, it’s thanks to him. He has been my inspiration as a player and as a coach, and I spent four wonderful years with him, learning everything from him.”
