Babbel upbeat after battling draw

Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel is convinced his side will make it into the Champions League knockout stage after their 1-1 draw away to Sevilla.

The valuable point left qualification for the second round firmly in the German outfit's hands and eased the pressure on the under-fire coach.

There was a new air of confidence about the former Liverpool defender, who said after the game: "I am 100% convinced that we will go through,"

Babbel did admit though his team were "lucky to only be 1-0 down" at the break.

But he was impressed by their second-half display as Zdravko Kuzmanovic equalised in the 79th minute and Julian Schieber came close to a late winner.

"We did everything completely different in the second half," added Babbel.

"And that makes me confident that we can still go through. We deserved this draw.

"What we saw is what we are capable of if we perform like we did in the second half for a full 90 minutes.

"The lads have the potential and they don't need to have any fear. If they give it all they have got, then they will be victorious."

Victory in their final two games in Group G away to Rangers and at home to Unirea Urziceni would send Stuttgart through to the knockout stage.


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