Thierry Henry stood up in the dressing room after last night's Champions League Final defeat and told his shattered side that he was proud of them.
Ten-man Arsenal looked like they were going to pull off one of
the greatest ever European victories at the Stade de France.
However two late Barcelona goals left them empty-handed in
everything but self-esteem.
"People say sometimes that when the game is hard for Arsenal
they drop," said Henry afterwards. "Well I am sorry but
I'd like to say that my team deserves to be proud and leave the
stadium with their heads up.
"Personally I am more than proud. All the time people talk
about Barcelona being the best side in Europe and you can say that
they are because they won the Champions League. But I am sorry even
with 10 we did well.
"I know [the fans] are disappointed but at the same time they
can all be proud of us. Usually I am a winner, I don't like to
lose. But tonight you can lose with dignity and hold your head up.
Then if you lose you lose.
"What we gave today was more than them in terms of heart and
everything, they had the luck but we fought hard. As I said to the
guys in the dressing room you have nothing to be ashamed of nothing
at all.
"I gave everything, Sol gave everything, Freddie gave
everything. I don't know if you saw but with 20 minutes to go
he had his hands on his knees.
"I was looking at the clock and thinking 'can you not make
a move there'. I have never finished a game so empty."
