Belief was the theme emanating from the dressing room after our Champions League Round of 16, first leg against RB Leipzig.
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The result went against us, but this group of players has been there before in Europe’s elite competition and the memories of second legs at Manchester City (4-3 down on aggregate, scored on 73 minutes to go through) and Ajax (3-0 down on aggregate after 55 minutes, scored in the last minute to go through) last season are very much fresh in the memory.
“There are still 90 minutes and we need to believe,” said Davinson Sanchez. “This team has the quality to be there. Everyone is believing, I can’t say anything different. We know we can do it, 90 minutes there and we have to keep going.”
“Look, we’re 1-0 down but we’re still in the tie, for sure,” added Harry Winks. “In the last two seasons in the Champions League we’ve had our adversity and managed to overcome that.
“It’s going to be a difficult place to go, especially being 1-0 down and the away goal, but the game is there for the taking. The gaffer has already said to us that we’re not out and we strongly believe we can go there and get something.”
Man of the match on Wednesday night, skipper Hugo Lloris echoed his team-mates. “We need to keep positive,” he said. “It’s not time to give up or find excuses but to be ready to fight until the end. We are not really happy with result but have to deal with that. We did it last season, so let’s hope and with our fans, let’s try to create another story.”
Returning to the first leg, Davinson took heart from being able to pin the German side in the final 20 minutes. “When we pushed them (back) and forced them to play long, we had chances to score goals,” he said.
“They played the football they came to play – high wingers, quick, tried to exploit our full-backs, diagonal balls behind the full-backs as well. It was a lot of work, but we’ll see in 90 minutes in Germany.”
Winksy added: “It was a game of two halves, really. In the first half we were too passive, we let them play, let them dictate the game and we were probably a bit too respectful, for some reason. In the second half, after we conceded, we went for it, pressed them and had our chances.
“They are a good side, young, energetic, like to play, like to press. They don’t really give you any time to breathe on the ball. We’re a side who can do that equally as well and we showed that in the second half. We’re definitely not out of the tie, that’s for sure.”
