Arteta Surprises Everyone with Shocking Confession: I Consulted Guardiola to Beat Real Madrid
Spanish manager Mikel Arteta stunned fans and pundits alike with a striking revelation following Arsenal’s commanding 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, held at the Emirates Stadium in London.
In remarks highlighted by Spanish newspaper Sport, Arteta admitted he sought advice from his compatriot Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, in preparation for the clash against Los Blancos. He stressed the importance of learning from the best, referring to Guardiola as a top-tier coach from whom he continues to draw inspiration.
Although the nature of the advice wasn’t disclosed, Arsenal’s dominant performance against Real Madrid clearly reflected the success of Arteta’s strategy, placing his team in a strong position ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“I spoke with Pep a few days ago. I wanted his advice—it’s important to learn from the best,” Arteta said. He emphasized that the victory would remain etched in the memory of Arsenal fans, especially since it marked their first meeting with Real Madrid since the 2005-2006 Champions League campaign.
He added, “The Arsenal family enjoyed this result, and the players are excited. We know exactly what we did today. Now we’ll prepare for the big challenge ahead in Madrid.”
Interestingly, Guardiola’s Manchester City had also faced Real Madrid earlier in this season’s Champions League, only to be eliminated with a 6-3 aggregate loss. City struggled to keep pace with Madrid due to a dip in form and a string of injuries within their squad.
Despite the growing rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City in recent years, Arteta and Guardiola have maintained a close personal relationship. Arteta previously served as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for three and a half years (2016–2019), during which time both men expressed mutual admiration and respect.
This win marks a significant milestone in Arteta’s managerial career and could become a defining moment in Arsenal’s modern European history—should they successfully secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals.
