LONDON • Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham can win the Champions League, despite injuries ruling key players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Danny Rose out of the last-16, first leg at Wembley today.
Speaking yesterday at a pre-match conference ahead of the clash against Borussia Dortmund, the manager said: "I really believe we can win every game we play, but we know this competition is so tough. We are facing a team at the top of the German table.
"But, with all respect to the team we're playing, we always believe we can beat anyone.
"The players are giving their best and I am so proud to be in front of this group of players.
"If you are honest with yourself with what Tottenham are doing in the last few years, I think it's fantastic from the top to the bottom. Champions League for a third year in a row is a bonus.
"If we aren't ready to compete today, we have a problem. We'll find our energy to do our best."
Despite his optimism, the Argentinian is facing a defining moment in his Tottenham reign, as he tries to keep his bid for a first major prize in almost five years at the club alive after already exiting the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Spurs have never been past the last 16 of either the Champions League or the Europa League since the manager arrived from Southampton in May 2014.
There remains a nagging feeling of unfulfilled potential about the team, who have won only three Cups in the past 28 years. The last time they won a title was their League Cup triumph in 2008.
THE 12TH MAN
It definitely helps when the stadium is full and rocking. We want one of the best crowds in the world behind us.
JAN VERTONGHEN, Spurs defender, urging the fans to give the team a lift as they bid to improve on last season's showing.
Tottenham have finished in the Premier League's top three for the past three seasons and are on track to finish third this term. But their poor record in domestic Cups under Pochettino is a significant blemish and their European exploits have been equally confounding.
His first season featured a tame Europa League last-32 defeat by Fiorentina and, the following year, they were outclassed by Dortmund in the last 16.
His maiden voyage in the Champions League was even more rocky, as Tottenham failed to qualify from the group stage.
Finally hitting their stride last season, Spurs enjoyed a memorable 3-1 win over European champions Real Madrid in the group stage and they also beat Dortmund twice.
But, as the pressure mounted, Tottenham melted, blowing their lead in the last-16 second leg against Juventus as two second-half goals sent them crashing out.
Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen, who was also present at yesterday's press conference, has called for greater fan support at Wembley today if they are to progress further than the last 16 this campaign.
He said: "It definitely helps when the stadium is full and rocking. We want one of the best crowds in the world behind us."
Dortmund captain Marco Reus, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the clash with a thigh injury.
Reus, who has 17 goals for Dortmund in all competitions and is the club's leading scorer, injured his thigh during their German Cup defeat by Werder Bremen last week and missed their draw with Hoffenheim in the league at the weekend.
Jadon Sancho, the 18-year-old English winger who has eight goals and 10 assists in all competitions, is expected to take Reus' place in the starting line-up.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
TOTTENHAM V DORTMUND
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 3.55am
Google bucks soaring smartphone prices with new Pixel Macron camp seeks reset after EU campaign 'false start' Naples Mayor blames gangster show Gomorrah for outbreaks of youth violence in
News From June 2017 - Business Directory - The Internet Pages
A men's volleyball match between Iran and the US in Tehran on Friday could be a key test for an easing of a ban on female spectators, but for hardliners any change will be a step too far, the BBC
England national football team - Wikipedia
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader, says ex-Madrid striker Mijatovic Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their second goal against the Kashima Antlers in Abu Dhabi
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-gareth-bale-nowhere-near-being-reals-leader-says-ex-madrid-striker-mijatovic/
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader, says ex-Madrid striker Mijatovic 01/04/2019 La Liga , Real Madrid (REUTERS) - Former Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic criticised Gareth Bale for lacking leadership qualities and hit out at coach Santiago Solari after the club's La Liga title ambitions were dented by Thursday's
Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real Madrid's leader, says
The Australian Financial Review; Football: Australian Joe Palatsides set to replace Belgian Michel Sablon as FAS' new technical director The Straits Times; Australia squad for women's World Cup
Football: Football Association of Singapore appoints Joseph
The Belgian still has plenty to offer Pep Guardiola's champions and his qualities will still be needed as they aim to refresh the squad this summer Albirex Niigata (S) a squad overhaul
Audit shows a record 3.572 billion people watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Figure includes those who watched TV at home, out of home or on digital platforms The final was seen live by a
Almost Half Of The World's Population Watched The FIFA World
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport FILE PHOTO: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - Jan 26, 2019. Action Images via
Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to play.
Football: Barcelona on verge of La Liga title after beating
Paris (AFP) - Tottenham followed in Liverpool's footsteps by pulling off one of the most stunning fightbacks in Champions League history on Wednesday as Lucas Moura's hat-trick snatched a dramatic
Great UEFA Champions League comebacks
Premier League weekend: Five things we learned Anthony Kelly 22/04/2019 Premier League , Weekly features 0 An extra long sunny weekend was made all the better by a bumper package of Premier League football this Easter.
5 things we learnt from this weekend's Premier League action
Now, I have landed a potential starting two guard, I have my three of the future set in Miles Bridges, I have an intriguing four man in Isaac, and I have Cody Zeller at the five. Even without Walker, this is a team that can start gelling and learning from each other right away.
How To Replace the F-35: Meet the 'Advanced' Super Hornet for
Olivier Giroud said on Wednesday he has been approached by other clubs to play for them next season, but he added he wanted to extend his stay Chelsea. Giroud demands important role at Chelsea
Giroud demands important role at Chelsea next season
0 comments:
Post a Comment