Eto'o: "it's amazing"

ByEurosport

Published 17/05/2006 at 10:50 GMT

Samuel Eto'o has described winning the Champions League with Barcelona as "the most beautiful moment" of his career. The Catalans won the trophy for only the second time in their history with a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Stade de France in Paris on Wedne

"It's amazing. I don't have the words to explain how I feel at the moment," admitted the Cameroon international to reporters after the win.

"I just want to take in a moment like this... I want to say thank you to all the people who believed in me, especially my family who have sacrificed a lot for me", he continued, before adding "This is the most beautiful moment of my career."

Eto'o - 25 years old and Liga top-scorer with 25 league goals this term - took the opportunity to recall his start in professional football and how his career has progressed since then.

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"When I first played in the primera liga I was a nervous youngster... I think the first time I played for Real Madrid I missed six chances! But years on I'm more mature and when given this second chance I took it gratefully."

Eto'o also admitted he would have rather a goal had been given than a red card when Arsenal 'keeper Jens Lehmann was sent-off for bringing him down outside the box on 18 minutes.

"At that moment I would have preferred a goal, but I didn't mind.

"The thing is, once the referee decides not to play advantage and to call the foul, he had to send the 'keeper off."

Despite the sending-off, Arsenal went a goal up through Sol Campbell's 37th minute header, a lead they held until his equaliser with less than a quarter of an hour remaining.

"I never thought the match was lost," he declared.

"I was thinking about the Liverpool match last season. The match is never finished until the final whistle. We wanted to emulate the spirit of Liverpool, never to give up."

FOOTBALL 2005-2006 UEFA Champions League Barcelona-Arsenal Eto'o Almunia Campbell

Image credit: dpa

"In a final you can never have doubts," he concluded.

And of his post-match conversation with Arsenal's Thierry Henry - expected to join Barcelona in the summer - he added:

"(Henry) is a friend, and I spoke to him after the match... he congratulated us and said he was sad for himself and his team-mates but happy for us."

TURNING POINT

Team-mate Deco believes Lehmann's sending-off was a turning-point for his side.

"They had chances early on but the sending off of Lehmann was an advantage for us. They still scored but we came back.

FOOTBALL 2005-2006 UEFA Champions League Arsenal Barcelona-Arsenal Lehmann walks Henry consoles

Image credit: Reuters

"It is an historic achievement for everyone at the club."

Sweden striker Larsson, playing his last game for Barca, came on in the 61st-minute to set up both their goals with killer passes.

"It was a tough match and the whole team deserve credit for the win," he said.

"It was an unbelievable way for me to finish my career at Barcelona. I have had a fantastic experience here in my two years with two league titles and now this.

"It's amazing."

Henry brands ref "horrendous"

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