Spurs v Borussia Dortmund - Mauricio's preview
Wed 13 February 2019, 11:24|Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino is taking form and recent history between the teams out of the equation as we face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Wembley this evening (8pm).
It’s the third time in four seasons we’ve faced the German giants in European competition but Mauricio feels our home and away wins in last season’s group stages count for nothing now as we bid for a place in the quarter-finals over two legs. The second leg follows at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday 5 March.
“That’s history, recent history, but every season is different, every year is different," he said. "They have different players, we are different too and you must play and show you deserve to win.
“Football is day by day. It is today and what happened yesterday doesn’t count today. It is so dynamic. It’s always exciting to play in the Champions League and we’ll give our best to try to win this game.”
Die Schwarzgelben top the Bundesliga by five points having lost just once all season. However, they have gone three without a win domestically – draws against Eintracht, Werder Bremen in the DFB Cup (and a loss on penalties) and Hoffenheim on Saturday, where they led 3-0 with 75 minutes on the clock but were pegged back for 3-3.
Mauricio said: “The Champions League is different and you cannot assess a team in different competitions like the Bundesliga, where they are doing a fantastic job, a fantastic season and they have been top of the table for the whole season. That speaks so highly about the squad, the players, the coaching staff and the manager.”
As for the key to the tie over two legs, Mauricio added: “It could be different things, it’s difficult to know what is going to happen. We are going to compete at our best and our motivation is high.
“There are many things that can happen in one game but this is two legs and a tie you must not only win (tonight), then after in Dortmund. Many things could be involved and be important to get through to the next stage of the Champions League.”