Cambiasso, Palacio still dreaming of Inter glory

Despite a 3-0 round of 16 first-leg defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur FC, the dream is still alive at FC Internazionale Milano as the club look to make history in 2013 by becoming the first club to lift the trophy four times.

It is 15 years since the club's last triumph in the competition, a success long-serving Javier Zanetti was part of, and his fellow South Americans at the Nerazzurri are keen to follow in their captain's footsteps. "It is an important and great competition, especially now when you have to face very strong opponents, let us hope we can win it," said Argentinian forward Rodrigo Palacio.

Esteban Cambiasso added: "We entered this competition with the idea of giving it the seriousness it deserves, because it is a title we believe in – we as a team have a lot of desire to do well here."

However, two-time winners Spurs are in the driving seat ahead of Thursday's second-leg, thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jan Vertonghen, and Cambiasso knows the challenge his side faces. "[Spurs] have announced that they want to succeed, they believe in this competition the same way we do, and it will be a great tie without a doubt."

These interviews took place before the first leg.