Dele Alli says Tottenham must not feel sorry for themselves and “get the violins out.”
Spurs midfielder Alli insists they can still pull off a Champions League upset and repeat last season’s heroics by knocking out RB Leipzig.
They are best by injuries and have struggled for form in a turbulent season but Alli claimed it will be a huge test for a team which defied the odds in last season against Ajax to reach the final.
Alli said: “It’s not a time to get the violins out. We have to step up and deal with these situations. We have to show our character. Everyone in the squad needs to come through and show why they are here.
“We have shown that plenty of times before. It is going to be a very difficult game but we have belief in ourselves or as individuals that we are going to turn it around and get a result.
“I don't think anybody could say that they are given where we are. And I don't think we should be. We want to be higher up the table but nobody is going to do that for us.
“We know we have to fight like we have done in the past and we have to work together. This is not a time to think about yourself and how you are feeling. This is a time to pull together the most and try harder. We are just going to have to do better.”
Alli was so frustrated in the first leg that he threw away his boots when substituted in the second leg but he insists that just showed his passion.
He added: “As a player you always want to play well and help the team as much as you can. You don't always show it in the right way, but I am a very passionate player and I care.
“When I am not playing well and we are not winning it is very hard to curb your emotions on the night.
“When you have got a winning mentality and when you are passionate, sometimes when you are 1-0 down and you are coming off not having helped the team as much as I would have liked to have, sometimes it is hard to hide your emotions.”
