Monaco performance was ugly - Dirars first comment

The Moroccan admits his side are not pleasing on the eye but has hailed their solidarity after scraping through to the Champions League quarter-finals

Nabil Dirar has admitted that Monaco looked “ugly” as they booked a Champions League quarter-final place on Tuesday.

The principality club produced a nervous performance as they went down 2-0 to Arsenal at the Stade Louis II, but still progressed on away goals following their 3-1 win in London in the first leg.

And the Moroccan midfielder accepted that his side will have won few admirers with their display despite achieving a last-eight berth.

“We have been criticised a lot, and our football might appear ugly but what people don’t see is our solidarity,” Dirar told BeIN Sport following the second leg.

“It was really tense at 2-0. I kept checking the giant screen but the minutes were passing really slowly. We tried to play on the counter and failed.

“But we proved to be tough and what we can take from tonight is the qualification.”

Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey scored for Arsenal, but Monaco held out despite a late onslaught to qualify for Friday’s quarter-final draw.