LUIS ENRIQUE has denied that he and his Paris Saint-Germain coaching staff claimed that Arsenal were the better team across both legs of the Champions League semi-final.
on Wednesday to book a place in the final.
Having won the first leg 1-0 last week, the champions had the upper hand going into the match.
A first-half goal from extended the overall advantage at the Parc des Princes.
then made it 3-0 on aggregate in the 72nd minute.
got one back for the Gunners in the closing stages, but it was too little too late to perform a comeback.
Despite losing the tie, claimed that were the better team overall.
He even suggested that members of PSG‘s coaching staff thought the same.
Asked if he believed the best team lost the match, Arteta said: “I think so, yes. Especially for 160 minutes.
“I’m saying that and they’re saying that because they [PSG’s bench] just told me that.”;
The manager also told TNT Sports: “The assessment I’ll make when I’m a little bit cooler but the feeling I get from their bench was that we were much better than them.
“Over the two legs the best player on the pitch was their goalkeeper, he’s made a difference in the tie. We were very close much closer than the results showed but unfortunately we are out. I’m so proud.
“How we started and handled the pressure – after 20 minutes we should be 3-0 up. But there is something extra in this competition to go your way and it didn’t.”;]
However, PSG manager was quick to deny the claims during his post-match press conference.
He said: “I don’t agree at all. Mikel Arteta is a great friend but I don’t agree at all.
“I think they played in a clever way today and they got the match to the right moment for them because they played in the way they wanted and they loved to play.
“But I think in the two legs we scored more goals than them and in football that is the most important thing.”;
Arsenal next face champions on Sunday.
They need three points to fully guarantee a place in the Champions League for next season.
