“Even Cristiano Ronaldo has mentioned that” - When former Real Madrid defender opened up on Ronaldo naming ‘most difficult’ away ground
Alvaro Arbeloa once said that Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo named Anfield the most difficult away ground he played in. The Portuguese has played at some of the best stadiums in the world during his career.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner spent six seasons in the Premier League with Manchester United, before moving to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009. He achieved tremendous success with Los Blancos, where he shared the pitch with Alvaro Arbeloa.
Ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League group stage tie against Liverpool in 2014, Arbeloa said that Cristiano Ronaldo had named Anfield the most difficult away ground.
"Even Cristiano Ronaldo has mentioned that this is the most difficult away ground he knew in his time playing in the Premier League," said Arbeloa.
Arbeloa spent one-and-a-half season with the Reds, appearing 98 times, before returning to Los Blancos in 2009. The Spaniard added that playing at Anfield is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"It's tough to put into words. It is something you have to experience for yourself. These massive nights in the Champions League, even league games during the day, are special occasions, and you only have to listen to that special sound of You'll Never Walk Alone before the game," said Arbeloa.
He continued:
"I would almost put it into words that it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As a player, it is a special environment, it's a special stadium, and you need to experience that at least once in your career."
Ronaldo spent nine seasons at Real Madrid, before leaving for Juventus in 2018.
How many times did Cristiano Ronaldo face Liverpool as a Real Madrid player?
Cristiano Ronaldo faced Liverpool 14 times during his career, but only three of those were for Real Madrid. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner faced Liverpool in the Champions League for the first time in the 2014/15 season in the group stages.
Los Blancos won the away game 3-0, with the Portuguese getting on the scoresheet. The LaLiga giants also won the home leg 1-0, with Karim Benzema scoring the only goal of the game.
Interestingly, Ronaldo has just three goals against the Reds in his career and only one of them was scored at Anfield. The Portuguese has two goals against Liverpool from 11 games for Manchester United, with both scored at Old Trafford. Healso faced the Merseyside club in the 2017-18 Champions League final, which Real Madrid won by a 3-1 scoreline.