MX23RW : Monday, November 25 02:14:00| >> :120:7999:7999:
[monks data]
Royal Antwerp
Europa League | Group Stage
Oct 29, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
Bosuilstadion
Spurs logo

Antwerp
1 - 0
Spurs

Refaelov (29')
Seck (20'), Refaelov (50'), Verstraete (84'), Mbokani (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Royal Antwerp boss Ivan Leko relishing chance to take on Jose Mourinho

Royal Antwerp boss Ivan Leko relishing chance to take on Jose Mourinho
© Reuters
The teams go head to head in the Europa League on Thursday evening in Belgium.

Royal Antwerp head coach Ivan Leko could not hide his excitement at the prospect of pitting his wits against Jose Mourinho.

The Belgian club welcome Tottenham for a Europa League Group J clash on Thursday and Leko is preparing to realise a dream.

He said: "I think everyone in the club and I feel very grateful to play with a coach who together with (Pep) Guardiola and (Carlo) Ancelotti, is the best coach in the 21st century, one who changed football.

"First feeling is really grateful and one of the small dreams is coming true.

"I am just super happy, you play Tottenham and Jose Mourinho, you don't get to do that every five minutes.

"Who am I to talk about Mourinho? When Mourinho was winning the Champions League, I was watching, waiting for 8.45pm to watch his games.

"I am just super happy my team plays against him. All the stories, everything about him, he just has very big respect from me, he has more trophies than some people have games.

"The most difficult thing in football is to win and Mourinho has won everywhere."

Antwerp, who are top of the Belgian Pro League, won their opening game of the group phase last week, beating Ludogorets 2-1, while Spurs overcame LASK 3-0.

Royal Antwerp won 2-1 in their Group J opener against Ludogorets last week
Royal Antwerp won 2-1 in their Group J opener against Ludogorets last week (Anton Uzunov/AP)

Former Manchester United and Leicester defender Ritchie De Laet says the Belgian side are not just there to make up the numbers.

"It is important for the club, it is the first European game in a long time at home," the Antwerp player said. "We start off at home to a tough opponent, who a couple of years ago were in the Champions League final.

"After our great start last week it is important we build on that. I don't think we can forget to enjoy it, but we are going in relaxed.

"On the other side, the coach and playing group are demanding to put a performance in. (On Thursday) we can show respect to them but that doesn't mean we are just going to make the numbers up.

"We are going to start with the intention to win it and if we can't do that we have to make sure we don't lose."

ID:420098: cacheID:420098:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5399:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli pictured in August 2020
Read Next:
Harry Redknapp offers advice to Spurs outcast Dele Alli
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio440012
2Ajax431010
3Anderlecht431010
4Frankfurt431010
5Galatasaray431010
6Spurs43019
7FCSB43019
8Lyon42117
9Rangers42117
10Olympiacos42117
11Bodo/Glimt42117
12Midtjylland42117
13Ferencvaros42026
14Man Utd41306
15Plzen41306
16AZ42026
17Besiktas42026
18Hoffenheim41215
19Roma41215
20Fenerbahce41215
21Elfsborg41124
22Braga41124
23Porto41124
24Slavia Prague41124
25Real Sociedad41124
26Malmo41033
27FC Twente40313
28Qarabag41033
29Union SG40222
30Nice40222
31RFS40222
32Ludogorets40131
33PAOK40131
34Athletic Club00000
35M. Tel Aviv40040
36Dynamo Kiev40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!