‘Atleti exiting CL would be good’

Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has claimed that “it’d be good if Atletico Madrid exited the Champions League”.

Arbeloa was a rare starter for Madrid over the weekend as Los Blancos defeated 2-1 Las Palmas in La Liga, but he was quick to turn his attentions after the game at Gran Canaria to that of his side’s arch-rivals, who face PSV in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.

“I’m aware that I’m playing my final games for the club,” he said.

“Now I play less but train harder on my days off.

“We’ve taken all three points from a stadium where other big teams have suffered.

“We don’t feel inferior to anyone. For the other teams, it’d be good if Atletico exited the Champions League.”