In an interview with UEFA.com ahead of Manchester United’s crucial Champions League second-leg game at Old Trafford, Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea acknowledged that having lost the first-leg 2-0 against Olympiakos, his team must throw everything they’ve got, against their Greek opponents.
“We know we didn’t play a good match in Greece, they were better than us, they played a better match than us and they won. But now there is the return leg at Old Trafford and I think that with our fans behind us, we have to go onto the pitch and fight and attack from the first minute on.”
De Gea remains confident however, that with the support and backing of the fans, within the electric atmosphere of Old Trafford on European nights, his team can make a comeback.
“I think that with the atmosphere and the team we have, we can succeed and hopefully get through to the next round. Here at Old Trafford, we will give everything we have to play a lot better than we did there. I think that by playing well and pressing, we’ll still have a good chance.”
The 0-3 home defeat against arch-rivals Liverpool in the Premier League, was hardly the most inspiring preparation for a big European game though, but De Gea insists that his team will be fired up for the match and keen to progress.
“They are different matches, this is a knock-out competition and you have to win the ties. In those ties there are a lot of emotions involved. It seems to take an age for the matches to come and you can’t wait for them. Then when they do, you enjoy them and try to give your best.”
The young Spanish keeper also admits, that he very much has his sites on lifting the famous trophy with Manchester United.
“It’s a dream of mine to one day lift the Champions League trophy. There’s no comparison.”