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It must have been a long weekend for Adam Federici.
After making the unfortunate error which sent Arsenal through to their second consecutive FA Cup Final, Federici left the Wembley Stadium pitch in tears before being selected for random drugs testing after the game. And the Sunday papers weren't sympathetic towards the 'keeper either, diverting all their attention towards that one moment which saw the trophy slip away from the Royals.
Federici took to social media this morning to issue his own apology.
Just like to say thank you for all your messages and how sorry I am for my mistake , we gave our all and deserved to at least take it pens..
— adam federici (@federici32) April 20, 2015
... It's part of being a goal keeper and I'm sure it will make me stronger ! Thank you again for your amazing support #readingfc
— adam federici (@federici32) April 20, 2015
And everyone has rallied around our goalkeeper who made some unbelievable saves to keep the FA Cup dream alive until the extra-time period. Not just Reading fans, but supporters of all clubs from all over the world.
@federici32 Your saves kept us in it till that point, you have NOTHING to apologise for!! #readingfc
— Carl (@RFCCSN) April 20, 2015
@federici32 you got us to the semi finals Feds! Head up! Player of the season by a mile!
— Jacob Potter (@pott95) April 20, 2015
@federici32 @darenothope you're a fine keeper Adam & will be important part of our @Socceroos looking forward to WCQs for @russia2018_en
— Pablo Bateson (@PabloFootball) April 20, 2015
@federici32 @Socceroos mate u saved at least 4 definate goals in that match! Keep ur head up mate and all the best! #keepersunion
— Ivan Necevski (@IvanNecevski) April 20, 2015
@federici32 Mate, as an Arsenal fan, sucked to win that way. Unlucky. Truly world class save from Gabriel & looked solid all game. Head up.
— The Twelfth Man (@_The12thMan) April 20, 2015
@federici32 as a Villa fan I'm glad we're not facing you in the final. You kept Reading in it for a long time. #Respect
— Kit Holder (@KitHolder) April 20, 2015
@federici32 @stephenlane57 Your only human mate. You did what you could. Keep your head up. :-)
— Steve Spear (@Predator180) April 20, 2015
@federici32 unlucky mate, you played a blinder all game. Head up, no dwelling on it, and focus on the future!
— Ashley. #DT38 (@WestHamFan3) April 20, 2015
Whilst many will only remember Adam's performance in that one unfortunate moment, there are those who remember his incredible feats not only in the rest of the match but across the season as well. Personally, I'll think about this moment when Federici's name comes up in relation to the match - the save that meant we left Wembley forty minutes later than most people expected.
WHAT A SAVE: This unbelievable stop from @federici32 kept out @Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista on Saturday https://t.co/VQZKcWBBAB
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) April 20, 2015
According to our various match reporters, he's the highest rated player who's been here all campaign, and without him, Royals fans wouldn't have been walking down Wembley Way in the first place - and who knows, we might not be (relatively) safe in the Championship.
The staff of both Reading and Arsenal came out after the game to praise Federici, with opposite number Wojciech Szczesny saying he was "the best player on the pitch" and Arsene Wenger noting he "saved his team on many, many occasions."
We've already started our #FlagsForFeds campaign and we'd love you to get involved. Reading is a family club, and everyone has rallied behind our goalkeeper just as family should. The casual observer might define Federici in that one moment, but we know better.