Ebere Eze fulfilled a childhood dream in the previous round by netting his first Champions League goal, and our summer signing is keen to grasp the opportunity as we aim for back-to-back UCL semi-finals.
Our number 10 smashed home the opening goal in our 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, before missing our quarter-final first leg clash with Sporting CP.
We picked up a 1-0 victory in the first leg, and as we return to N5 for the reverse fixture, Eze is confident we can reach the final four for a second season running.
He said: “We all know the position that we’re in, the opportunity that we have and we know what’s at stake. The focus is on the opportunity that we have and taking it with both hands.
“These are the moments that you want to play in as a footballer. You want to play in the high-stakes games, you want to play in all the competitions, and you want to win as much as you can. It’s a beautiful time, and for me, I’m so excited, I know my team is excited, I know the boys, so we’re going to give everything for sure.”
Eze grew up watching the Champions League, in particular our 2006 side that went all the way to the final, knocking out the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus.
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Ebs knows how big playing on this stage is and believes there is a mentality within this current squad that is similar to that of the group that reached the final 20 years ago.
He said: “The Champions League is special. Growing up, watching it on TV and dreaming of playing in this competition, having it as a goal of mine from a young age. It’s a very special thing and something I don’t take lightly. To be in the position where we can win the competition and where we’ve got the actual opportunity, for me, that’s the most special thing. I’m grateful to God for it.
I think there was a certain level of confidence (in our 2006 squad). Not arrogance, but it was just a belief within that squad. For me, that’s what football’s about. Walking up to a pitch and believing that you’re that guy and you’re part of that team.
“For me, that’s the mentality, and they had that. It’s something that we’ve got as well, which is special to be a part of, and for sure something that dreams are made of.”
Facing the Portuguese champions in N5, Eze knows it will be a tough game but is confident that if we focus on ourselves, we can reach the last four of the tournament.
He said: “We’ve seen how they’ve played from the last game, but you don’t know how they can come, they could completely change. It’s hard to speculate on that, but the main focus is how we’re going to play, how we’re going to operate, and allowing that to be the main focus, because if that’s the case, then we trust that we have enough to put in the best performance possible and turn the game.
“That’s our mentality, that’s how we’re focusing on the game, and being very much centred on ourselves.”
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