Trent Alexander-Arnold confessed he got extra satisfaction from Real Madrid progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals as it allowed him to exact personal revenge on Manchester City. Real sailed through to the last eight with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory following their second consecutive win over Pep Guardiola’s team on Tuesday evening. Vinicius Junior found the net twice to secure a 2-1 victory on the night in Manchester after Bernardo Silva received his marching orders in the 20th minute.

Erling Haaland‘s strike offered little comfort for City, who were confronting a monumental challenge after surrendering the first leg 3-0 in Spain courtesy of a Federico Valverde hat-trick. In numerous respects it represented standard fare for Real, who have claimed six of the last 12 Champions League crowns. However, it marks unfamiliar territory for Alexander-Arnold, who is competing in the tournament’s knockout rounds for the first time with Real following his transfer from Liverpool last summer.

Alexander-Arnold lifted the Champions League, two Premier League trophies, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Club World Cup during his spell at Liverpool. Yet his former employers also ended as runners-up to City on two occasions in the Premier League during his tenure there, and the right-back consequently relished gaining the upper hand over his former rivals on Tuesday evening.

“This is the most crucial phase of the season,” he declared. “Major matches are coming thick and fast, and each one feels like a final. The expectation at Real Madrid is to go the distance in the Champions League and triumph. It’s ingrained in the very fabric of the club. We thrive on these expectations, and it helps us bring out our best qualities.

“It was satisfying to get one over Manchester City, they’ve nabbed a few medals from me and Liverpool. You know facing Manchester City is always going to be challenging, so we’re proud of the performance.”

However, Alexander-Arnold’s transition from Liverpool to Madrid hasn’t been entirely smooth, as injuries have restricted him to 20 appearances across all competitions. But the 27-year-old has now found his footing under manager Alvaro Arbeloa and feels at ease in his new environment.

“I knew what I was signing up for, it’s a completely different culture, language and style of football,” he stated. “Everyone’s made me feel incredibly welcome from the outset, and encouraged me to be myself.

“The manager has instilled a great deal of confidence in me so hopefully I can stay fit and progress. He’s enabled me to play the way I can.”

Real’s reward for defeating City is likely a clash against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, with the German titans holding a 6-1 advantage over Atalanta ahead of their second leg on Wednesday evening.