"I would like to play with Rodrygo"

Mikel Merino scored one of the three goals that Real Madrid must come back from behind against Arsenal to advance to the Champions League semifinals. The Spanish midfielder is likely to be key in Arteta's plans for the return leg, for the preview of which he went on ‘El Partidazo de COPE’ on Monday night. He analysed the phenomenon that the ‘Merengue’ club has become in Europe and chose Rodrygo Goes as his favourite player of Carlo Ancelotti.

"They are all players of a very high level, I love them all, but I have already said that I would like to play with him. He is very good technically; between the lines, he plays very well, he runs into space well.... I really enjoy watching him play. It's a profile that every midfielder would like to play with," he praised the Brazilian. 

Regarding his role as the emergency No 9, the former Real Sociedad player said: "It's been a special season, not only because of the goals, but also because I'm enjoying a different position that I've never experienced in my career. I seem to be giving a good performance". His move to the attacking front line is due to the increasing number of injuries in Mikel Arteta's side, which does not have enough strikers.

Merino fully understands the mentality with which Madrid will approach the clash: "It has to be the way a team should be. If it were the other way around, we would have that mentality. On a football pitch, a thousand things can happen and that's why we have so much respect for them. I haven't spoken to my teammates about this issue - that of 'Los Blancos' ability to come from behind -".