Fantasy football for Leeds star

Smith's (right) combative style has helped him become a feared striker

Leeds United striker Alan Smith talks to CNN about the English side's surprise charge to the verge of the Champions League semi-finals.

CNN: You're Leeds' top Champions League scorer this season with seven goals -- more than established marksmen like Raul and Andriy Shevchenko. What were your expectations in the competition beforehand?

Alan Smith: Obviously we had to qualify first against 1860 Munich. We knew those games were going to be as difficult as they proved. We had a lot of injuries at that time and a few suspensions and it was a great result to qualify for the Champions League. I think when the draw was made everybody wrote us off to be honest but we clubbed together as a team. It was a big challenge for us and we went into it with high hopes.

ALSO Profile: Alan Smith Leeds United in Europe

CNN: Leeds' manager David O'Leary has always stressed his low expectations from the competition this season. Does the team share those?

Alan Smith: When we go out and play teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid nobody expects anything from us. When we go out and play we can just enjoy it. It's been a great learning experience for us.

CNN: What were your thoughts after being beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in your first game?

Alan Smith: Obviously it wasn't the result we needed in the first game! It probably wasn't the best place to go first. We got a lesson in football from players like Rivaldo that night, but I think we grew up in the Nou Camp. We knew we had another five ties to turn it around and we did.

CNN: What did you learn and how have you taken your game on since?

Alan Smith: We're learning all the time together as a team. I think it was just one game and once we'd lost it we put it to the back of our minds and got on with the rest of the ties. I think Milan away was the game where we really turned it around as a team. We qualified for the second stage, which no one expected us to do and really grew up that night.

CNN: Leeds have a 3-0 lead for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday. When will you allow yourselves to think you can go all the way in this competition?

Alan Smith: I don't think we will, to be honest. I don't think we're like that. It's been a good adventure for us and we've still got a difficult game to play in Spain on Tuesday night. A lot of people say we've already qualified but we know we've got to go there and do a job and then, hopefully, we'll start looking to the semi-finals.

CNN: Can you stay in England and fulfil your potential?

Alan Smith: There's been a lot of publicity about the Premier League doing so well. I think the Spanish league is probably the most exciting league in the world at the moment, but the Premier League is attractive to big foreign players. You can stay in England and fulfil a footballer's ambitions.

CNN: How well will this young team do in a few years if its kept together?

Alan Smith: I don't know. Next season is a fresh start for every individual. Myself and all the other young lads have got to go out there again and prove we're good footballers. The slate's clean and we'll start fresher, so who knows.

CNN: What expectations do you place on yourself?

Alan Smith: I just go out and enjoy playing. I enjoy playing for Leeds and the Champions League has been a bonus all the way through. So we go out there with no pressure and want to show the rest of the world we're a good team.

Leeds climbs to third with 2-1 win over Liverpool
Friday April 13, 2001
Leeds smashes Deportivo 3-0 in quarterfinal
Wednesday April 04, 2001

Leeds United
UEFA Champions League

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