Dukungan Declan Rice

Gelandang Arsenal, Declan Rice, turut memberikan pembelaan dan dukungan moral kepada dua rekannya yang gagal mengeksekusi penalti dalam drama di Budapest tersebut.

“Devastated. Missing a penalty in a Champions League final isn't nice.

But we love them. Look, that happens in football.

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They aren't going to be the last players to miss a penalty in finals. Everyone has missed a penalty.

Without them two this season, we wouldn't have won the Premier League. It's cruel, but we take the positives,” kata Rice kepada TNT Sports.

Rice mengajak timnya untuk melihat perjalanan panjang yang sudah dilalui kelompok ini sepanjang musim kompetisi yang melelahkan.

“It's devastating to lose a Champions League final on penalties,” ujar Rice.

Ia menambahkan bahwa skuad Arsenal sudah memberikan segalanya di lapangan hingga memaksa laga berlanjut ke babak adu penalti yang dinilainya seperti sebuah lotre.

“We tried to take a lot of perspective in how far we've come as a group. An incredible season.

Our 63rd game in all competitions. We've given it absolutely everything.

We took the game to penalties. It's a lottery.

That's football, you can either win on pens or lose. Some of the best teams in the world have lost on pens.

We're on the receiving end of that tonight. We win together and we lose together.

I'm so proud of these boys. What a season.

It's been incredible. I can't speak highly enough of everyone.