Declan Rice on his 'magic moments' in stunning Champions League win over Real Madrid that will be with Arsenal star 'forever', Jude Bellingham bullish
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Updated 09/04/2025 at 08:10 GMT+1
Declan Rice called the post-match reaction to Arsenal's stunning 3-0 win over Real Madrid "chaos", after the England star converted the first two free-kicks of his career in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg. Rice dubbed it a "really special night", one to "look back on when your career's done". But Jude Bellingham insisted "anything is possible" ahead of the second leg in Madrid.
'It's been chaos' says Rice as he 'digests' stunning free-kick double against Real
Video credit: TNT Sports
Declan Rice admitted he has still not completely grasped the magnitude of his two-goal heroics against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Arsenal took a huge step forwards in their quest for the UEFA Champions League last four by stunning the holders 3-0 at the Emirates, with Rice's two astonishing free-kicks proving pivotal.
Mikel Merino added a sensational third before Eduardo Camavinga was shown a second yellow late on, as the visitors left London shell-shocked.
And the England international said the reaction as soon as he stepped foot in the dressing room was "chaos" and that it will all take a while to sink in.
"Obviously, I haven't [got my head around it]," Rice told TNT Sports. "It's been chaos probably since I've come in. My phone... just seeing people outside here, I've not really had time to sit and digest it all.
"But what I've done and how I scored the goals, I've got all night to do that. So when I get in, I'm sure I'll sit down and have a watch."
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Highlights: Rice magic as Arsenal stun Real Madrid on famous night
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The 26-year-old had never scored a free-kick in his entire career, and revealed he was not even planning on hitting his second to Courtois' left until the last moment.
He said: "As soon as I hit the first one and it went in, I thought, 'That's my first-ever free-kick.' And then I just had the confidence over the second one. I just thought, 'Why not? What have I got to lose?'"
"I was going to go over the wall but then I thought I've got the keeper's side on a good one and I've been practising that a lot. Two went in and they're magic moments that are going to sit with me forever, a really special night."
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And with the backing of the Arsenal fans before, during and after the victory, Rice called it a night to "look back on when your career's done".
"I was just smiling before the game," said Rice. "I think it's just one of those nights you look back on when your career's done that you've been a part of. A big thank you to the fans, because they really created the atmosphere and they were with us from minute one."
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'What are the odds?!' - Arteta reacts to Rice's incredible free-kick double
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Bellingham: 'Anything is possible'
Jude Bellingham cut a defiant figure in his post-match interview, pointing to "history" for hope that the holders can turn the tie around.
But the England star admitted that collapses akin to Tuesday night's performance have been happening "all season" and praised their "brilliant" hosts.
Nevertheless, Bellingham said Real Madrid would never "give up and roll over" in the return fixture at the Bernabeu next Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"I don’t know if shocked is the right word," Bellingham told TNT Sports. "We’re disappointed, really, more so in ourselves. There’s nothing external we can draw on, we’ve got to look at ourselves.
"It’s a similar thing that’s happened all season when we’ve dropped points, and it’s happened again tonight on a larger scale. We’re going to have to address it.
"We’re going to need something special to turn it around, but special things can happen in football. If there’s one place where it can, it’s at ours."
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'We have to be honest, we have to be humble' - Bellingham reacts to Arsenal defeat
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"They were brilliant," he added. "Besides the free-kicks, which are very rare to score, they had a load more chances that they could have punished us with. We have to be honest, be humble, take our medicine.
"Anything can happen in the return. Anything is possible. History has proven it. We’ve scored a lot of goals in games before. It’s not within the mentality of this club to give up and roll over.
"We’ll need the fans and give them something to grasp onto, because something like that, they can’t get behind. At home, we’re going to have to show a much better reaction if we want something special to happen."
Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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