‘Perhaps we will drink a beer in the hotel and then we focus on PSG’: Julian Nagelsmann refuses to get carried away after RB Leipzig reach the Champions League semi-final as he gets set to face Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the last four
- RB Leipzig booked their spot in the last four with narrow win over Atletico Madrid
- Tyler Adams scored a winner in the dying embers to send German side through
- Julian Nagelsmann says he won’t celebrate too much with one eye now on PSG
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has refused to get carried away after admitting his team just about deserved their victory against Atletico Madrid to reach their first-ever Champions League semi-final.
Tyler Adams’ deflected late shot secured a shock 2-1 win in Lisbon. The 21-year-old American struck the decisive blow after 88 minutes as the tie looked to be heading for extra time.
His low shot from the edge of the area appeared to be going wide but hit Stefan Savic and the ball flew past the helpless Jan Oblak in goal.
Julian Nagelsmann insisted his RB Leipzig side will turn their attentions immediately to PSG
Atletico, runners-up in this competition in 2014 in Lisbon and again in 2016, saw a substitute of their own bring them back into the match when Joao Felix equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second half.
Spaniard Dani Olmo had given Nagelsmann’s side the lead at the start of the second half as Leipzig – who were only founded in 2009 – became the first German team outside of Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund to reach the semi-final of the Champions League since Schalke in 2011.
‘It was a good game for my squad and I am very happy. At the end I think we were a bit better in the final third and that was the difference,’ Nagelsmann told BT Sport after the match.
‘We did not create many chances but Atletico also did not create many chances and in the end I think we were a bit more dangerous around the opponent’s goal and I think it is good we are in the semi-finals.
Tyler Adams’ late strike saw the German side beat Atletico Madrid to book a semi-final
The RB Leipzig players celebrate after their famous Champions League victory in Lisbon
‘It is good emotions for the club and the team, I am very proud of my team, they did very well. This club and this team has developed very fast, faster than usual, but as a manager you have to look forward and prepare for the next game and prepare for the next opponent.’
Leipzig will now face French giants Paris St Germain in the semi-finals in Lisbon on August 18,
‘We will not have much time to celebrate this victory but perhaps we will drink a beer together in the hotel and then tomorrow we focus on PSG,’ Nagelsmann added.
‘We have to be very fast in the defence line and we will have to defend very well as there are a lot of stars in this PSG team and it will not be very easy but we try to go to the final.’
Leipzig will come up against star duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in their last-four tie next