Martin Keown and Rio Ferdinand disagree with Liverpool legend's 'party pooper' Arsenal jibe
Liverpool legend Steve McManaman warned Arsenal not to get ahead of themselves with Real Madrid celebrations.
Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Steve McManaman was not willing to get carried away with Arsenal celebrations after the Gunners beat Real Madrid for the second time in the Champions League quarter final.
Mikel Arteta’s side have booked a place in the semi-final to face Paris Saint-Germain after a 2-1 win against the Galacticos at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. That followed a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium last week.
The London outfit looked comfortable against Real Madrid in both matches and will fancy their chances of lifting the prestigious silverware this season. However, two time Champions League winner McManaman was not singing the same praises as colleagues Martin Keown and Rio Ferdinand.
Liverpool legend Steve McManaman gives ‘party pooper’ Arsenal verdict
The former winger said: “Yes, very impressed. They were excellent over two legs but they’re in the semi-final. That’s all they’re in. We want them to win, and once they win it we’ll eulogise about Mikel, about Declan and everyone else. They’ve done the hard part, they’re in the semi-final but have an equally difficult tie to come up.
“You have to get over the line. It’s fine getting into the quarters and the semis, you have to go on and win it. They deserve every credit for what they’ve done over these two legs, they beat Madrid - a poor Madrid, I thought - but they’ve beaten them convincingly. We wait and see what challenge PSG come and bring because they are a different side to what they faced earlier on in the tournament.”
When having moved on to speak about Bukayo Saka being ranked as the best in the world, McManaman continued: “You have to be successful to be classed with the people we’ve spoken about. You have to win and you have to be a perennial winner. You have to win this tournament because the best teams win this tournament.
“If you can perform like that in the quarter final, brilliant. If you can do it in the semi-final or the final... we’ll be singing his name from the rooftops. You have to give us something because winning a quarter final, I don’t want to be a party pooper, but it is only the quarter final. We’ve been here before.”
Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown defend Arsenal celebrations
Ferdinand and Keown were cautious in reacting to the passionate Scouser, but were firm when underlining the achievement of what Arsenal had completed. Real Madrid have only not made it into the Champions League semi final two times in the previous 14 campaigns.
The former Manchester United man said: “I agree with you but, at the same time Macca, you’ve got to come here. Coming here, the holders, and going to them listen, ‘you lot sit in your spot...’”
Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Keown added: “It’s the first time in 20 odd years that Real Madrid have gone out in the quarter finals. It’s a huge ask.”
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