Wenger: 'I feel under-performed is maybe a big word'

Last updated : 10 December 2008 By Chris Parry

"We lost the match and came second. Porto were stronger than us tonight. In the first half, we were not in trouble until the first goal, from then on the game became more difficult.

"We have seen our weaknesses from when we were in a position where we had to come out at the back and put them under pressure, because we lost balls where you cannot afford to lose balls and we were in trouble.

"In the last 20 minutes, they were dangerous every time we lost the ball and we were not effective enough up front."

"I feel under-performed is maybe a big word. When we are 2-0 down the belief was not there and we were not strong enough to come back."

"We had some injured players at home, but we have played five times now out of six a game away from home in the Premier League after a European game. This was the only match we could try to protect our next fixture in the championship, that is why we did it, but many of the players who stayed at home were a doubt anyway."

"We can fight with everybody in Europe and can qualify against anybody. It is important now to come back in the championship and be in a good position. We now have some time to focus on that.

"We will see who we get in the draw, and then look at the Champions League again in February. Let's first wait to see who we get, it's difficult to have any speculation now."