against Cypriot side APOEL guaranteed top spot in Group
H, quite an achievement.
We’re there after not only beating Real Madrid 3-1 at
Wembley – a match that will join the club’s list of glory,
glory nights – but also coming from behind to beat Borussia
Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.
That win typified what we’ve been talking about, coming
just three days after the dagger in the heart of a defeat at
the Emirates.
“That hurt everyone,” said Dier. “You don’t want to lose
any games, let alone one against your nearest rivals. It will
hurt everyone, players playing their first game or 500th
game. The players feel what the club and the fans feel.
“After we lost against Arsenal, obviously we were
disappointed but we didn’t have too much time to get toodown about it because we had another huge game against
Borussia Dortmund.
"That was a fantastic win and it was great we could give
our amazing away support a good result again so quickly
and finish top of the group.
“Now we move on again. One game doesn’t determine
anything – there is so much to play for.”
It’s game to game in this busy spell – 14 matches in six
weeks after the players returned from international duty in
November through to FA Cup third round weekend in early
January – and Eric says the players are now determined
to finish this Champions League group stage in style
against APOEL.
The Cypriot champions caused us a few problems in
matchday two back in October and we were tested to theINTERVIEW | ERIC DIER“WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES, IN OUR
BUBBLE AND WHAT THE MANAGER, THE COACHING
STAFF AND THE CLUB FEELS AND WANTS.”
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