Declan Rice Reveals Original Plan For Astonishing Free Kicks Against Real Madrid

‎Declan Rice revealed that his outstanding double from free-kicks during Arsenal’s impressive 3-0 victory over Champions League holders Real Madrid was years in the making.

‎In the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, Rice found the net with two exquisite free-kicks.

‎The England midfielder’s long-range rockets were followed by a Mikel Merino goal as Arsenal moved to the brink of reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

‎It was an astonishing result, especially considering that Rice had never scored a free-kick in his career before the first of his set-piece strikes that flew past Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

‎”It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar,” Rice said.

‎”Originally, we were going to cross it, and then I’ve just seen the wall and the goalkeeper’s position. So I thought just go for it.

‎”The second one I had the confidence. I hit it. I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m over the moon. But in a few years, this will really hit me that what I’ve done tonight was really special.”

‎Arsenal’s shock victory was just a reward for a composed, mature display that took advantage of injury-hit Real, who were blown away by the Gunners’ intensity in the second half.

‎However, even though Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, are in a strong position to reach the semifinals, Rice has no plans to underestimate the 15-time European champions.

‎”We need to be super convinced we can come and win this game. As a group, we were really convinced. We needed to score in the second half,” he said.

‎”It’s not going to hit me yet because there’s another leg to go.

‎”We need to be ready for next week. The Bernabeu, what it’s like to play there.

‎”We need to be ready.”