MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 09:42:26| >> :120:40905:40905:
[monks data]
Attendance: 67,343
Spurs logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 13, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Dortmund logo

3-1

Heung-min (4'), Kane (15', 60')
Vertonghen (92')
FT(HT: 2-1)

Mauricio Pochettino: 'Borussia Dortmund game vital to qualifying hopes'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino talks up the importance of his side's opening Champions League group-stage fixture against Borussia Dortmund.

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that a positive result against Borussia Dortmund is vital to Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of progressing in the Champions League.

The Lilywhites struggled in the group stage last time out, winning just two of their six games as they finished behind AS Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen.

Spurs have an even tougher set of fixtures this time around, with reigning European champions Real Madrid and Cypriot champions APOEL joining Dortmund in Group H.

Pochettino knows the importance of getting off to a positive start at Wembley Stadium in midweek, though he insists that it is not a case of his side battling it out for second spot behind Los Blancos.

"I think Wednesday is so important, to start well in the competition and get the three points will be key to the future," he told reporters. "In theory it should be Real Madrid first and the others trying for second, but football is not about theory. Our ambition is to win every game.

"Real Madrid are on a different level: they won the last two Champions Leagues so it's a different reality. I think it'll be a very competitive group. Last season after the first game against Monaco it was difficult to change the dynamic. It's so important to try to win the game.

"It will be tough, Dortmund are a great team, but in our mind our mentality is to win and be aggressive from the start. Last season was our first experience in the Champions League... It was a very painful experience because we couldn't be at the level we needed to be, but now that's not an excuse."

Spurs follow up Wednesday's home tie against Dortmund with trips to APOEL and Madrid over the next five weeks.

ID:307070: cacheID:307070:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2761:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mauricio Pochettino shouts during the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton on March 19, 2017
Read Next:
Pochettino: 'Winter break would help clubs'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!