Former FC Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez recently recollected how superstar Lionel Messi broke down in the dressing room, after missing a penalty in an important UEFA Champions League match.
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The Argentine missed a spot-kick in a UCL semi-final match against Chelsea in 2012, with the Blues progressing to the final where they lifted the trophy after beating Bayern Munich on penalties.
Sanchez used that moment as an example of how emotionally invested professional footballers are into the sport they play.
"I think football saves many people. It can give you a life of luxury, but people don't see all the effort that goes in behind the scenes," he told Sky Sports.
"That might mean not seeing your family, or missing your mother's birthday, many players are so focused that they miss the birth of their children.
"You might cry during a game if you lose a final. That's all part of football. In the Barcelona dressing room after the Chelsea game, I saw Leo cry. That's because players demand so much from themselves. People don't see that.
"Sometimes people say things such as, 'He's got too big for his boots' or say, 'He's changed'. You buy a flash car and people say that you're a show-off.
"I've learnt so much over time and with the experience that I've gained. You can't please everyone. There'll always be one or two who get angry.
"I've learnt so much from playing football: I love football and that's what I do. I enjoy myself and I'm just trying to be happy."
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Sanchez joined Arsenal from the Catalan club in 2014, before signing for the Red Devils in the January transfer window.
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