Eric Dier admitted only his own “blind faith” kept him going through the worst six months of his career.
Dier found himself frozen out at Tottenham after Ange Postecoglou took charge last summer as the England defender started just one Premier League game before moving to Bayern Munich in January.
Now Dier finds himself 90 minutes away from completing one of this season’s best comeback stories. From the depths of despair to realising his dream of reaching another Champions League final if they can get past Real Madrid in next week’s semi final second leg.
It has taken incredible mental strength but Dier insists he never gave up on his belief that he could play at the highest level and paid tribute to Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel for giving him another chance.
Dier said: “Obviously, after the first six months of the season, to be playing in a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid is something I am very proud of.
“I always believed in myself and always believed I should be playing at this level and yes, I kept a bit of blind faith in the first six months of the season and I am proud of the way I carried myself in those six months and that is what has enabled me to be in this position now.
“Yes, I would like to think I have shown my mental strength. I had a tough six months but, yes, I believe in my mental strength.”
Dier has 49 England caps and played at the last World Cup so no-one should doubt his quality but it was Tuchel who gave him another chance. “He is a great character in football. He is a great character when he was in the Premier League before and he is a great character here. I think he is very authentic,” said Dier.
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“What you see is who he is and I really appreciate that as a manager. I am extremely grateful for him bringing me to this great club and giving me that opportunity. It has been great to work with him and I have learnt a lot in a short time and I am very grateful to him for giving me this chance.”
Dier had nearly ten years at Tottenham before it came to an end in January and the highlight of his time at Spurs was undoubtedly reaching the 2019 Champions League final.
Tottenham lost to Liverpool in an all-English affair in Madrid but that gave Dier a taste for more as he and close pal and team mate Harry Kane have the chance to play at Wembley on Saturday, June 1.
They will have to get past Real Madrid at the Bernabeu but Dier has his own take on what it would mean to be back at Wembley, having played so many games there while Tottenham’s stadium was being built.
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When asked whether Wembley would make it more special, Dier said: “Not really. It is a Champions League final. I have played there a lot. Unfortunately it has lost something for me as I have played there a lot with Tottenham so I have been spoilt. It is a Champions League final and I would play in a car park because it is such a special game.
“I have been lucky to be in one Champions League final. It is the best thing in football so we are all extremely motivated to try and get there again. We will do everything to try and go there and win the game. We played two halves and have two to go.”
Real Madrid will start the second leg as favourites to reach the final after their 2-2 draw with Bayern in Munich. But Dier firmly believes that if there is one team with the experience and know-how to beat Real Madrid then it is Bayern Munich, especially with 43 goal Harry Kane on they side.
Dier said: “Obviously for me, Harry is the best striker in the world and he performed well and to get his goal and his consistency and performances have already been incredible. It was an incredible atmosphere. Probably the best I have played in.
“We know all about Real Madrid but we are experienced and also have a rich history in the Champions League. If there is any club which can match them is us and we have to take our confidence into this game.
“There are a lot of players who have experience and have been in this position before. That will help us. It is a Champions League final, no away goals, so it is effectively 0-0.”
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