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After the Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona, both team coaches spoke at a press conference about the great performance of their teams, but with different moods. Frank Rijkaard praised the goalkeeper of the team, Victor Valdes, while also noting that all players were crucial in the path to victory. On the other hand, Arsene Wenger expressed regret about the six unsuccessful minutes that turned all the hard work during the match futile.
Frank Rijkaard, Barcelona coach:
"Arsenal played excellently, without a doubt. It was not easy for us, and it didn't surprise me. Before the match, I said that the Champions League final is unique and there is no clear favorite, just two good teams. Our opponents started the match well, but we also slowly began to attack. The red card suddenly turned the match upside down and I am sorry in terms of the game. The English club had to focus solely on defense, which they did very well. Victor Valdes stood out in our team, saving the team multiple times from Thierry Henry's shots. He made a significant contribution to the victory. For a team to win, every part of it must function perfectly. I believe this trophy is a great gift for our fans. We should all rejoice that we can experience such joy at Barcelona."
Arsene Wenger, Arsenal coach:
"The showing of the red card was the most important episode of the match, but we did not collapse after it and played well. We had several chances to score the second goal. And because we did not do that, we made the final part of the match very difficult for ourselves. I would like to congratulate the Barcelona club and my players on a great season in Europe. When Jens Lehmann was sent off the field, we had to play 70 minutes against a team that controls the ball very well. I think we did everything we could. I want to thank my players again, who were simply superb tonight. They played heroically, but were not rewarded. I will continue to work with them to achieve success with the club instead of this disappointment. They deserve great praise – just like the Barcelona players."
