ERIC HAD FAITH DESPITE DIER OUTLOOK

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, the England defender starting just one league game before moving to Bayern Munich in January. Now the centre-back finds himself 90 minutes away from completing one of this season’s biggest comeback stories and reaching another Champions League final, if they can get past Real Madrid in next Wednesday’s semi-final second leg after drawing 2-2 on Tuesday.

Dier (left) 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. That is what has enabled me to be in this position now.”

Meanwhile, Dier’s teammate Harry Kane has revealed what Jude Bellingham said to try and put him off his penalty to take a 2-1 lead.

Real star Bellingham tried to use mind games at the Allianz Arena by predicting his England pal would fire his spot-kick to the left.

Bayern Munich striker Kane, who scored the penalty, said: “In the moment, I didn’t know what he said but I spoke to him after and he said, ‘I know you’re going to go left of the keeper’.

“But it was nice for me because I saw the keeper go a little bit early and I put it away – and went left anyway.”

On the potential of reaching the final at Wembley, the Three Lions skipper added: “I would be lying if I said that it wouldn’t be a dream to play a Champions League final at Wembley.

“But, as I said before the Arsenal game, there are some big steps we have to take and next week will be the biggest.”