'We respect them but we don't fear them'
- Published
Ipswich Town defender Axel Tuanzebe says the side "don't fear" the top teams but they do have "lessons to learn".
The Tractor Boys played their first Premier League game in more than 20 years on Saturday as they kicked off the season against Liverpool at Portman Road.
Despite a 2-0 defeat, the newly promoted side won plaudits for their first-half performance and will need to take that level into their next match against Manchester City.
"You have seen a glimpse of what Ipswich are capable of," Tuanzebe told BBC Radio Suffolk. "Chances don't come often and you can see Liverpool took their chances. We can only learn from that and capitalise when it is our turn.
"We respect them [top teams] but we don't fear them. This was a game when we could take the gloves off and go for it. If you lose, people just think: 'Oh well, it was against a big team.' But, for us, it takes us a step forward and tests our levels to see where we are at compared with the top teams.
"We caused them a few problems and it was difficult for them to break us down. The second half was when we needed to keep that intensity and keep concentration throughout the game.
"We have some big lessons to learn."