• Champions League

We didn't work hard enough - Almunia

ESPNsoccernet staff
March 10, 2011
Manuel Almunia made a string of fine saves to keep Arsenal in the game © PA Photos
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Manuel Almunia has accused his Arsenal team-mates of lacking passion during their 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.

Almunia, a first-half substitute for Wojciech Szczesny, who dislocated his finger at Camp Nou, believes his team failed to show the urgency and desire necessary to hurt Pep Guardiola's side.

"Even at 3-1 we only needed one goal and you can't understand how there can be players that were walking," said Almunia, who is Arsenal's only fit senior goalkeeper because Lukasz Fabianski is out for the season following shoulder surgery. "With a bit more effort we could have caused them damage at the end.

"Barcelona bossed us and in the second half we had players that were not running. It seemed that everything was lost but you can score a goal at any moment.

"So the only explanation I have is that we were so tired and the players couldn't give any more. And being down to ten men, well, it was double the effort."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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