Fabregas blames "schoolboy" mistakes for Porto defeat
Fabregas claims you can't go anywhere making mistakes like his side made tonight
Wednesday, 17, Feb 2010 10:10
By Sam Ross.
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has blamed two self-inflicted mistakes and 'schoolboy defending' for his side's 2-0 defeat away to Porto.
Fabregas was on the verge of equalising for Arsenal before Porto defender Rolando da Fonseca brilliantly intercepted an Emmanuel Eboue pass - but the Arsenal captain feels his side let themselves down.
He said: "I'm sorry when you concede these goals you cannot go anywhere. They were schoolboy-like goals. What can you do? You can't complain at losing."
Fabregas also thinks Arsenal weren't strong enough to lift themselves after the devastating second goal, adding: "We went down and maybe we are still a little bit soft as a team.
"We are not strong enough to lift ourselves up and play well but until the second goal I think we were playing well and having a good game."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger backed up his captain's comments adding it was 'a massive mistake, a double mistake'.
He said: "I believe of course that the two goals we conceded tonight are not the kind of goals you expect to concede at this level. I think the second goal is unfortunate but on the first we were beaten."
But Wenger was more angered at referee Martin Hansson's decision not to award Arsenal a penalty when Tomas Rosicky appeared to be brought down.
"It was a penalty for us. If that is not clear I don't know what a penalty is. I don't understand his decision," the Frenchman added.