Wednesday Mar 05 2008 08:12
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was absolutely delighted with his side's performance in their 2-0 victory over Champions League holders AC Milan in the San Siro.
Late goals from Cesc Fabregas and EmManUel Adebayor secured a place in the quarter-finals for the Gunners, after the first leg in England had ended goalless.
A beaming Wenger said afterwards: "I am very proud of our performance. I have big respect for Milan, but my team deserves a lot of credit, having come here and beaten a team like them.
"We have given the performance we wanted. We played with organisation and never dropped off. We did not give them time and went forward every time we could.
"We played with authority, maturity, talent and intelligence and we have knocked out the holders.
"The players grow. I feel tonight they deserve a lot of credit, because our confidence level in the camp has dropped a bit.
"We have not been in the most positive environment recently, but I like the fact the team finds the mental strength to play without restriction.
"Sometimes as manager, you feel there is something in the team and you know that for them to get a step higher up they have to deliver in a big game like tonight. I hope this will strengthen the belief in the team.
"Now we have to keep a good balance between belief and humility, that is a very important quality as well, because it allows a team to be consistent."
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