My father told me to play on for Arsenal after death of my brother, says Sagna
Bacary Sagna has spoken for the first time about his agony over the sudden death of his brother Omar a week before Arsenal's Champions League first leg against AC Milan.
The French defender, who is preparing for the second leg in Italy tomorrow, told The Sun: "My father told me to come back and play in the Milan game. So that's why I did, I had to keep my head high.
"Now I have to show everyone that I am strong, to show my family I am strong and to carry on with my team-mates.
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Sagna: gave special thanks to team-mate Gael Clichy for his support
"Everyone at the club gave me support and that helped me so much.
"It's difficult to talk about it but I really want to thank everyone at Arsenal for what they have done for me in the past few days, the players the staff and everyone.
"I especially want to thank Gael Clichy and his girlfriend because they were so helpful to me. We need to win now for Eduardo and for my brother."
Arsenal's hopes of progressing in the Champions League have been boosted as Milan's experienced midfielder Clarence Seedorf is out with a hamstring problem. Milan have already lost Kaka to injury, while Emerson is struggling to be fit.
But boss Carlo Ancelotti said: "I think if we had played the first leg at home and it had ended 0-0, we would go there with a bit more fear. So maybe we have less fear than them."
