We won a difficult match - Sir Bobby

Last updated : 07 November 2003 By FootyMad

Sir Bobby

"We won a difficult match. Three goals away from home in Europe is a good reward.


"If we had not shown our fighting qualities, we would have lost this game.

"We've done well to come back twice. They gave us problems and tried everything. It was a long night.


"I always respect our opponents. You always have a chance in football.

"Both teams have to believe they have a chance, you never know in football. You have to be optimistic.


“I thought Basel were the better team in the first half and, when you are away from home in Europe, you know you will have to defend and the home team are always looking for the advantage.

"But you are always liable to nick a goal on the counter. That's what happened.

"We overcame the best that they could throw at us, but it was a long, hard night.


"Had Laurent not scored so quickly after their first goal, you never know what might have happened.


"Their opener was a great strike but, equally, Laurent's equaliser was a fine goal in the way he took the ball in his stride and slid it past their keeper.

"It was a goal by an artist. Suddenly it was 1-1 and it is a different game. It was a telling equaliser, a very important goal. It shook them up and it settled us down.


"Basel started like a train, as we knew they would. But our movement was good and we were always going to cause them problems and make inroads into their defence.


"We showed good character and fighting qualities and, had we not done that, we would have lost this game."


Christian Gross


"We defended badly tonight, especially for the first and third goals.


"They were too quick and we haven't been perfect.


"We started in a good way, but to beat this excellent side from Newcastle, everybody needed to perform in a better way, especially our full-backs, who didn't perform well.

"We had our chances in the second-half to re-open the game, but we lacked a freshness.


"But I'm looking forward to three weeks' time.


"I have time to prepare for this game and it will be particularly difficult, but we we're coming to Newcastle in the best spirit."