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."