Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Adams: 'No written plan' for Neymar, Mbappe

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Friday, 14 August 2020 14:39

RB Leipzig and U.S. international Tyler Adams said there is "no written plan" for how to stop Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Neymar ahead of their Champions League semifinal match with the Ligue 1 champions.

Adams, 21, scored a dramatic winner for Leipzig in a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Thursday and is now looking ahead to a last-four tie with PSG with a spot in the UCL final on the line.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Insider Notebook: Arsenal investigate £72m Pepe transfer

"We haven't thought about it quite yet," Adams said in an interview with ESPN. "Of course you can say those names and you think of the individual talent that they have and what they've done and achieved already, both of them, at such a young age, winning World Cups, winning the Olympics.

"How you stop that? I don't think there's a written game plan to how you can stop Neymar or Mbappe, but I think that we're confident in our defensive abilities, we're confident in our team's ability, so we know that we have to go out there and continue to fight for each other because that's what makes us so good.

"This fearless mentality that our team has being such a young team, we go into these games just thinking we can win everything. Like I said, confidence is key in these types of moments, but going out there and obviously being able to execute is huge as well."

Adams also reflected on the importance of his goal, which marked the first time an American had scored in the quarterfinals or later in a Champions League match.

"Of course it's a huge moment, but most importantly I'm excited that it puts our team into the semifinal now and it gives us a real chance to raise a trophy because at the end of the day that's all that's on my mind," he said.

"You could be the first player to do this, the first player to do that, but at the end of the day you want to be the first American to raise a Champions League trophy.

"We put ourselves in a closer position to do that now, we're two games away, we have a big competition next obviously against PSG, but it's pure excitement for that, we're up for the challenge."

As one of the brightest up-and-coming players in the U.S. team, Adams said there was no shortage of accolades and outreach from other national team players.

"All of [my teammates] have reached out to me," Adams said. "I thank them so much for the continuous support throughout all, a lot of these people have obviously played a role in my development, not just as a player but as a person.

"Seeing them all reach out and the excitement for them is a special moment that just goes to show how close we are as a community, the soccer community, but also how the impact that scoring a goal like that affects everyone. It makes everyone happy so it's a huge moment."

With all the teams in the quarterfinal stages playing a single elimination format, Adams added that he felt the one-and-done nature of the tournament helped younger teams like Leipzig.

Adams said: "When you take away the aggregate and obviously having to go to an away venue with just away fans and then going back at home, and sometimes relying on that home tie to bang out a result, this definitely levels the playing field.

"When we saw the structure of the tournament and how it was going to be set up, we knew that this gave us an amazing opportunity to go on and win three games and you're through."

Adams and RB Leipzig face PSG on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Read 301 times

Soccer

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer...

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated