Reaksi Mikel Arteta

Manajer Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, menyatakan kekecewaannya karena harus kehilangan trofi melalui drama adu penalti setelah timnya menunjukkan konsistensi tinggi sepanjang kompetisi.

“Yes, it is very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks, so it is a difficult one,” kata Mikel Arteta kepada TNT Sports.

Arteta juga menambahkan bahwa pencapaian menembus babak final merupakan hal yang luar biasa bagi klub setelah 22 tahun.

“We haven't done it for 22 years [reached the Champions League final], so imagine the second time in our history that we have done it, and we need to recognise the season we had, but at the moment nobody is going to take the pain away from you,” ujar Arteta.

Mengenai kekuatan lawan, Arteta memberikan ucapan selamat dan memuji kualitas individu serta sistem kepelatihan yang diterapkan oleh kubu Paris.

“They are a superb team and I congratulate them. Individual quality they have, the manner they are coached - they are a top, top team.

You have to go through the emotions and if you're in pain, then go through the pain,” tutur Arteta.

Ia meminta para pemainnya untuk merenungkan hasil pertandingan ini dan tetap menunjukkan ambisi besar untuk menghadapi musim-musim berikutnya.

“If you think you could do something else, then learn from it. Reflect on that and show the ambition that we want to have again,” ucap Arteta.

Arteta menegaskan rasa bangganya terhadap perjuangan seluruh skuad yang telah melewati berbagai situasi internal sulit di sepanjang musim kompetisi ini.