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Arsenal knock Real Madrid out with 0-0 draw
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-09 09:17
"If you had told me that we would play twice against Real Madrid without
conceding a goal with so many defensive players out - it shows how football can
surprise you," he said.
"Over the two legs I feel we have done extremely well - we not only defended
in the two games but we attacked as well.
"In the first leg, Real were not at their best, so the question was 'How
would we respond to a Real Madrid who will be at their best?'.
"I feel tonight they came and really had a go. That's why I feel a game like
that should give us confidence - because we played a very good Real Madrid
side."
LEHMANN'S CLASS
As for his keeper Jens Lehmann, who made a brilliant one-handed save to deny
Raul after the break, he said: "You know before the game that your keeper will
have to make at least one save against Real Madrid. And he did it with class.
Jens has had a great season."
Captain Thierry Henry also praised Lehmann for his "match-turning" save as
well as the defensive effort. "We know that we can do some great stuff but we
also have to defend well as a team and we've done that."
Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro felt the best team went through but
was still left to rue the missed chances.
"When you look back at the two matches, I think the result is fair," he said.
"They've been superior to us, especially at counter-attack.
"We've shown good personality, we had many chances in both legs and we should
have scored. But we weren't clinical enough.
"I can only congratulate Arsenal's players and coach - because they've played
two fantastic matches."
As for Real's season, as they are out of Europe as well as the King's Cup and
10 points adrift of Barcelona in the league, he said: "Now we only have La Liga
left and we have to fight until the last match."
The Real coach also spared a thought for his former Manchester United
midfielder David Beckham, saying: "He played pretty well and he fought hard."
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