Real Madrid legend Marcelo has ahowever, stated he has total faith that his old side can overcome Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, maintaining that such comebacks are “part of the club’s DNA.”
The holders have a mountain to climb at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night as they find themselves 3-0 down on aggregate after a humbling defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Two superb free-kick goals from Arsenal’s Declan Rice left Los Blancos on the cusp of being knocked out, but Marcelo remains optimistic.
“You can never rule out Real Madrid,” the five-time Champions League winner told ESPN. “Three goals is a lot, but I believe in myself. The Bernabeu throng will drive hard, and the players feel it’s achievable. Real Madrid is Real Madrid — they always return.”
Marcelo, who spent 15 years at the club, stated that what fuels these magical European nights are faith, commitment and the fans’ energy. “From the first day we joined Madrid, we’re told to never give up. It’s been in our blood for a long time.”
And while Madrid have delivered some epic comebacks themselves in recent years — most notably against Manchester City in 2022 and Bayern Munich in 2023 — only four teams in Champions League history have overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit to advance. The best-known example remains Barcelona’s “Remontada” against PSG in 2017.
Now Ancelotti’s men want to add their name to that elite list. If they are to deny Arsenal a rare end-of-season semi-final berth then history, faith and the Bernabeu’s blanket atmosphere will all have to fall into place.
