Thompson said: "The boss has said it several times when the players want something badly enough they can achieve it. It doesn't matter what, where or how and this has proved it.
"When the players want it badly enough and the critics are at their highest they can respond. They feel it as much as the fans when it's not going right.
"I think the players had a point to prove on the biggest stage, watched by millions of people all around the world.
"They went out there to have pride in the shirt and in themselves to produce a performance for this football club."