Mauricio: "I'm ready to fight, ready to give my best, ready to win"

Mauricio Pochettino is raring to go as we step back into the UEFA Champions League arena against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night.

We take on the Bundesliga leaders for the third time in four seasons, this time in a last 16 tie over two legs. The first leg kicks-off at Wembley at 8pm.

BVB have lost just once in the Bundesliga this season but have gone three games without a win, including surrendering a 3-0 lead for a 3-3 draw against Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Meanwhile, we made it four wins on the trot and 13 in our last 16 in the Premier League with a 3-1 success against Leicester City on Sunday.

“To be honest, I am relaxed,” said Mauricio after training on Tuesday. “I was excited against Leicester, I was excited against Newcastle, I was excited against Chelsea... I’m always excited when we are going to play.

“I am there, ready to fight, ready to give my best and ready to win. That is in my nature. I am a winner. I am a very competitive person and I promise, no worries, I am okay, I am always ready to fight and we need to be sure our players are ready to fight.”

The ingredients are all there - Champions League knockout stage in front of a packed Wembley, up against the Bundesliga leaders, they’ve lost once, we’re in form - and Mauricio added: “If you are not excited and not ready to give your best in this type of game, I think you have a problem...”