Wenger: Our Worst Ever Display

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described his side’s display against Bayern Munich tonight as "our worst peformance in the Champions League." Few Gunners’ fans would disagree.

Kolo Toure grabbed a late, potentially precious away goal in a 3-1 defeat, leaving Wenger to concede: "The only positive is that we are still in the tie.

"The players are really down in the dressing room. I feel we really turned in a bad performance.

"At 3-0 we faced a real struggle, but 3-1 at least gives us a chance."

Before he scored, Toure had twice made a hash of defending to gift Bayern their first two goals. But Wenger was not about to criticise his central defender. "We need to help Toure rebuild his confidence as he is low at the moment."

The Frenchman was trying to remain philosophical after a woeful performance from the back of the team to the front. He commented: "There is enough time for crying. I could cry - maybe it would be easier - but life goes on.

"In this job, you have good and bad nights. This was a bad night - but I still have confidence in the quality of my players, as well as their spirit and desire."

Perhaps surprisingly, Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath was less than jubilant after his team’s emphatic victory.

"I am far from happy despite the win,” said Magath. “My players failed to try and score a fourth to kill the tie and then conceded the late goal.

"Arsenal are fully capable of scoring several goals against us on their own turf."

Meanwhile, Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, engaged in a personal tussle with Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn for Germany’s Number One jersey, said: "Do I blame myself for the third goal? As a goalkeeper, I always blame myself.

"I just know the goals were very easy against us. In my time here, we have never conceded three easy goals like that - but sometimes it happens.

"It would have been impossible to go through at 3-0 - but with the goal we have chances. Everything is now possible."

[此贴子已经被作者于2005-2-23 16:56:30编辑过]