BERLIN, Feb. 11 -- Roles seem clearly defined when a Bundesliga runner-up is crossing swords with Premier League side Tottenham in the next week's last-16-round duel. For the team of Portuguese star coach Jose Mourinho, this is far from good news.

English fans could see their 57-year-old manager on his spying tour in the Munich arena for a good reason keeping a close eye on the side's Champions League opponent. The former Manchester United coach didn't speak a word to his neighbours but appeared to be carried away in deep concentration.

Mourinho might have witnessed an essential change in his opponent's performance. Achieving a goalless draw against their closest national rival, Bayern Munich is said to be a significant turning point.

Leipzig is back in its favourite role as an outsider.

"It looks as if we had problems cruising at the top," the 23-year-old striker Timo Werner commented after his side had lost the league lead, only winning one of four games after the winter break. To fail in the German Cup, last-16-round against Frankfurt, worsened the East German's dark thoughts.

The supposed setback is no reason for disappointment when it comes to the German international.

Now the blond forward claims his team has gained back it's mental stability. "There were so many non-football-things in our mind over the winter break and shortly after," he added.

To be rated as a title favourite in the German league "was far from ideal for us. We didn't feel well."

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