'Go into the first leg with belief and confidence.'
If you look Roger Schmidt in the eyes then you will see determination. That impression was confirmed at the pre-match press conference ahead of the first leg game against Atlético Madrid.
"We want to fight our way through to the quarter-finals with passion," said the head coach the day before the first showdown in the Champions League. The Werkself are ready for the #nextLEVel.
Bayer 04 have a score to settle with the Spanish team coached by Diego Simeone. Almost exactly two years ago, the clubs faced each other in the Round of 16 of the Champions League with the Red and Whites winning out on penalties after two tight games. A moment that Schmidt has obviously not forgotten does not play a significant role for him in 2017. Those matches are more a reference point as both teams have not changed greatly in terms of playing style as Schmidt observed. "And, as we've seen, we can compete with the top team like Atlético on a good day."
Boost for the Champions League tie
His players have received a boost with the two wins in the league. "I've seen beaming faces," admitted Schmidt: "We will go into this game with belief and confidence." There is a question mark over Lars Bender. The Werkself captain went off at Augsburg with a muscular problem and trained on his own on Tuesday. A decision on his availability be made on the day of the match.
The team from the Spanish capital also have injury problems. In addition to the important defenders Juanfran and Diego Godin, the defensive stalwarts Tiago and Augusto Fernandez have not travelled to the Rhineland. Good news for Simeone: goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who underwent a shoulder operation in December, returned to full training this week.
In spite of the absences, Atlético will still field a team full of international experience. "We won't be able to beat Madrid as a matter of course," said Schmidt: "Instead, we'll have to show our quality and play without fear."
#nextLEVel
Ahead of the home game against Atlético, Bayer 04 have made it possible for all fans to tweet their support using the hashtag #nextLEVel via StadiumVision to the BayArena.
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