“It’s likely to be a similar back-and-forth match again,” said Marcel Sabitzer about the UEFA Champions League home match against Newcastle United on Tuesday night. The midfielder also looks back on the reverse fixture and talks about his own team.

Marcel Sabitzer on the reverse fixture:

“It was an open game. We had the first massive chance, actually a double chance. Then Newcastle had one or two big chances. The game went back and forth. It was very entertaining for the fans. In the end, we got over the line with a bit of luck. As for the spirit and attitude in the game, we played it out calmly and brought the win home. It was a mature performance. I have seen with Manchester United how difficult it is against Newcastle and was forewarned. We stood up to the awesome atmosphere and won an important game. With that game and that result, we truly arrived in the group stage.”

… the spirit in the team:

“Everyone is aware that this is crunch time and will determine how the rest of the season will go. The second match against them is upon us quickly, and is just as important. Everyone is aware of what awaits us.”

… the collective:

“Of course, there are players who can make a difference with solo efforts, but essentially, from a tactical perspective, we set up as a team. We know what makes us special as a team. Up front, we have players who can win games for us, but we do things mainly as a collective.”

… the home match against Newcastle:

“We are playing at home and will have our fans behind us. I am convinced that we will win the game. But it’s not a foregone conclusion. They will have their chances too. It’s likely to be a similar back-and-forth match again, because they also aren’t shy about attacking. They have a lot of players who thrive in one-on-one situations, with individual quality. We are looking forward to the game and we definitely want to win it.”