Pompey praise for Redknapp

Fratton Park boss receives backing from squad

Last updated: 18th May 2008

Redknapp Harry

Redknapp: Loved by players

Everyone dreams of playing in a final and our dream has come true.

Glen Johnson
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Portsmouth players praised manager Harry Redknapp following the club's FA Cup final success.

A solitary Nwankwo Kanu goal was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Cardiff at Wembley on Saturday.

And a host of Pompey players have admitted their delight at helping the South Coast club to their first FA Cup final success since 1939.

Defender Glen Johnson praised the role of Redknapp as he told Sky Sports News: "He has giving us the belief at the start.

"Everyone dreams of playing in a final and our dream has come true."

Challenge

Johnson's defensive colleague Sylvain Distin also revealed how pleased he was to have fulfilled the challenge he sought when moving to Pompey from Manchester City last May.

"The whole team, the whole squad, we all graft and work hard for each other," said Distin. "For me it has been fantastic.

"I came here for a challenge and I have got it. It can't ask for anything more."

Meanwhile, midfielder Lassana Diarra, who joined Pompey from Arsenal in the January transfer window insists he was unconcerned by the scrappy nature of the Wembley final.

Important

"It was a good game," explained Diarra. "They (Cardiff) deserved to be here. We played our football, but the most important thing is that we won."

Herman Hreidarsson was also ecstatic to have finally got his hands on the trophy after being forced to wait for what seemed like an eternity for the game to come around.

"It's been a long time coming," he said. "We've been waiting for this game for a while, we fancied our chances but it's a massive relief to have won it.

"They played well, but we had a few chances and got 1-0 up."

The Icelandic full-back was also left in no doubt that glory under the Wembley arch represented his finest moment in football.

"By a mile," he said. "It's fantastic."