Borussia Dortmund keep on believing, ahead of Hoffenheim match
December 5, 2014
Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp strolled into the press conference with a small smile. After a quick look at the gathered journalists, the 47-year-old sat down and gave his coffee a stir in his BVB mug. He seemed at peace, in a way that he has rarely been this season.
"I know what it's like to battle relegation, and how a team has to think to make it work. I've won 98 percent of the relegation battles in my life," said the coach, thinking back to his days at Mainz.
Following his team's eighth loss of the season last weekend, and the subsequent slide to last in the table, BVB's players will be under pressure to perform on Friday night against Hoffenheim. "At training we are trying to see who can best deal with this situation, and after that, we'll name our team," said Klopp.
Mats Hummels and Jakub Blaszczykowski could return to the side. Nuri Sahin and defender Lukasz Piszczek may also be ready to start again. At the press conference, Klopp challenged those critics who say that his team has not yet realized the seriousness of the situation.
"In our team, everyone well and truly knows. It is not as if they have just realized," Klopp said.
Sticking together
Klopp seems more motivated than ever. On the training ground this week, he's talked a lot with his players and has been keen to keep practice sessions fun.
"I've rarely worked as hard as I am at the moment," he said. "Working hard always helps you to get better."
While the fans remain for the most part positive, the club's management also seem keen to show their support for the players. Commercial manager Michael Zorc and board member Hans-Joachim Watzke were both on hand at training on Wednesday.
"At Borussia Dortmund we are sticking together," said Watzke. "The team now owes it to everyone, and I'm sure that they will deal with the situation appropriately."
Watzke again this week dismissed any possibility of Klopp being sacked. The coach – who has been in charge since 2008 and won the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012 - also made his own position clear at the press conference.
"I'm not thinking about resigning. There's no hidden trapdoor that I can escape into, once things get too tough for me here," he said. "I am 100 percent ready to do this."