Archiv

Vengeance

01.10.2013, 09:42 Uhr von: Redaktion

As the old saying goes: You always meet twice. Back in 2011 Borussia Dortmund had it's first Champions League appearance for years and we all know what happened. The Black and Yellow greenhorns were hard-running with total commitment, but had been partially made to look silly by Arsenal FC, Olympique de Marseille and Olympiacos Piraeus. "Two years ago we've been too naive, daring and offensive. We've probably become more experienced," coach Jürgen Klopp said. Today one of these teams returns to Westfalenstadion, revenge is in the wind as Klopp points out: "At home we were on the brink to win our first Champions League match until Olympique turned the match around. Yes, we have the feeling that revenge is in the air. Not that strong, but a little bit."

But this endeavor won't be that simple. "We've observated Marseille for the last five matches. They are physically strong and therefore really ball-winning. Furthermore their transition is excellent," Klopp said. After the loss against Napoli Borussia Dortmund is already under pressure to not lose the connection to knockout phase. According to Jürgen Klopp, the initial situation hasn't changed at all: "The loss against Napoli doesn't change anything. We have had to win against Marseille anyway. The winner of today has a foot in the door. Compared to Olympique we're probably more pressured."

A team that is riddled with stars like Mandanda, Valbuena, Ayew, Payet and Gignac (out today) won't be that easy to beat. "We will have to give everything that we have, to win tomorrow," Klopp said. "But it's a plus that we aren't that bad." Besides the long-term casualties Piszczek, Gündogan, Schmelzer and Kehl, Borussia Dortmund has also to do without Jürgen Klopp for the first time, since he became coach of BVB in 2008. Suspended due to a wild discussion with the fourth official in Napoli, our assistant coach Zlatko Buvac is going to take over. "He is the personified football expertise who loves football, but without the whole fuss around it. He didn't want to do this media conference [yesterday's]. I don't know a coach that is better than him. This is exceptional. It won't fail because of his knowledge."

Remarkable is also the quite likely Champions League debut of 21-year-old Erik Durm, who - only a half year ago - was a striker of BVB's second team. Unexpected, Klopp started to transform him into a full-back this campaign, and the injuries of Lukasz Piszczek as well as Marcel Schmelzer will probably be his fortune.