Arsene Wenger names Champions League star who makes him ‘drop to his knees’
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger (Picture: X) Arsene Wenger has revealed his huge admiration for a Champions League star who makes him ‘drop to his knees’. Fans were treated to one of the greatest games in Champions League history on Tuesday night as Inter Milan beat Barcelona 4-3 at the San Siro. The Italian and Spanish teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their semi-final tie and the second leg was even more entertaining and dramatic. Barcelona looked to have booked their place in the final when Raphinha completed their comeback from 2-0 down but Inter Milan’s 37-year-old defender Francesco Acerbi turned home a last-minute equaliser. Inter’s Davide Frattesi then scored an extra-time winner to send the Serie A giants into the Champions League final and inflict a heartbreaking defeat on La Liga leaders Barca. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Much of the focus prior to the semi-final tie centred around Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old sensational who has quickly and remarkably established himself as one of the best players in the world. But ex-Arsenal manager Wenger singled out Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Pedri for praise before the second leg, describing the Spanish midfielder as ‘absolutely unbelievable’. Barcelona midfielder Pedri in action against Inter Milan (Picture: Getty) Still just 22, Pedri will make his 200th appearance for Barca before the end of the season and has already lifted La Liga and European Championship trophies. ‘We speak only about Yamal for Barcelona,’ Wenger said on beIN SPORTS. ‘I would love to highlight Pedri. ‘For me, Pedri is absolutely unbelievable. He puts me on my knees. The science of a midfielder is in Pedri’s legs and brain. Everything he does is unbelievable.’ Inter Milan beat Barca in an all-time European classic (Picture: Getty) Asked whether Pedri was comparable to his former player, Cesc Fabregas, Wenger added: ‘He is like Fabregas, yes. ‘They are comparable. In terms of authority and charisma on the football pitch, they are comparable.’ Turning his attentions to Barcelona’s incredible teenage talent, Wenger said: ‘He is quick but he’s really mastered his acceleration. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona failed to reach the final (Picture: Getty) ‘When a defender is next to him, it’s just a little burst and he’s away. He’s very sharp when he decides to accelerate. When he shoots, he has a very short back-lift. ‘What is comparable with [Lionel] Messi, is that when he runs with the ball, the ball is always at the distance of play. The ball is never far away, it’s like glue on his boots.’ After edging out Barcelona in an all-time classic, Inter Milan will face French champions PSG or Premier League giants Arsenal in the Champions League final. Inter captain ‘so happy’ after Barca win Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, who recovered from an injury scare to produce an influential performance against Barca, said: ‘I am so happy. ‘I am so proud of Inter Milan, I am so grateful to the fans and to my family who are here today. ‘I wasn’t in a great place and I wasn’t 100% today, but the medical staff worked so hard to get me match fit. ‘We will do what we can – we just have one more step to go. We want to go there and win it. We will do all we can to ensure that we get Inter Milan to the high summit of European football.’ Barcelona manager reacts to agonising defeat Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, said: ‘I’m very disappointed that we’re out – but I’m not disappointed about the performance of my team. They tried everything. ‘We’re out, but next year we’ll start again and we’ll make our fans, the club and everyone around us happy. ‘They [Inter] are a really good team, a strong team who defend well but also they have a really good striker. ‘In the second half we were really good. We gave everything but in the end it was like that and that’s what made me a bit sad.’ Inter Milan have won three European Cups, most recently lifting the Champions League trophy in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. The Italians reached the Champions League final two years ago but were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City, who clinched a historic treble that season. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arsene Wenger has revealed his huge admiration for a Champions League star who makes him ‘drop to his knees’.
Fans were treated to one of the greatest games in Champions League history on Tuesday night as Inter Milan beat Barcelona 4-3 at the San Siro.
The Italian and Spanish teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their semi-final tie and the second leg was even more entertaining and dramatic.
Barcelona looked to have booked their place in the final when Raphinha completed their comeback from 2-0 down but Inter Milan’s 37-year-old defender Francesco Acerbi turned home a last-minute equaliser.
Inter’s Davide Frattesi then scored an extra-time winner to send the Serie A giants into the Champions League final and inflict a heartbreaking defeat on La Liga leaders Barca.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Much of the focus prior to the semi-final tie centred around Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old sensational who has quickly and remarkably established himself as one of the best players in the world.
But ex-Arsenal manager Wenger singled out Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Pedri for praise before the second leg, describing the Spanish midfielder as ‘absolutely unbelievable’.
Still just 22, Pedri will make his 200th appearance for Barca before the end of the season and has already lifted La Liga and European Championship trophies.
‘We speak only about Yamal for Barcelona,’ Wenger said on beIN SPORTS. ‘I would love to highlight Pedri.
‘For me, Pedri is absolutely unbelievable. He puts me on my knees. The science of a midfielder is in Pedri’s legs and brain. Everything he does is unbelievable.’
Asked whether Pedri was comparable to his former player, Cesc Fabregas, Wenger added: ‘He is like Fabregas, yes.
‘They are comparable. In terms of authority and charisma on the football pitch, they are comparable.’
Turning his attentions to Barcelona’s incredible teenage talent, Wenger said: ‘He is quick but he’s really mastered his acceleration.
‘When a defender is next to him, it’s just a little burst and he’s away. He’s very sharp when he decides to accelerate. When he shoots, he has a very short back-lift.
‘What is comparable with [Lionel] Messi, is that when he runs with the ball, the ball is always at the distance of play. The ball is never far away, it’s like glue on his boots.’
After edging out Barcelona in an all-time classic, Inter Milan will face French champions PSG or Premier League giants Arsenal in the Champions League final.
Inter captain ‘so happy’ after Barca win
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, who recovered from an injury scare to produce an influential performance against Barca, said: ‘I am so happy.
‘I am so proud of Inter Milan, I am so grateful to the fans and to my family who are here today.
‘I wasn’t in a great place and I wasn’t 100% today, but the medical staff worked so hard to get me match fit.
‘We will do what we can – we just have one more step to go. We want to go there and win it. We will do all we can to ensure that we get Inter Milan to the high summit of European football.’
Barcelona manager reacts to agonising defeat
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, said: ‘I’m very disappointed that we’re out – but I’m not disappointed about the performance of my team. They tried everything.
‘We’re out, but next year we’ll start again and we’ll make our fans, the club and everyone around us happy.
‘They [Inter] are a really good team, a strong team who defend well but also they have a really good striker.
‘In the second half we were really good. We gave everything but in the end it was like that and that’s what made me a bit sad.’
Inter Milan have won three European Cups, most recently lifting the Champions League trophy in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.
The Italians reached the Champions League final two years ago but were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City, who clinched a historic treble that season.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
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