UEFA Champions League: BVB fights for life against Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp says it is OK to go out to Real Madrid CF but that he has no plans to do so as the German team, “second-half specialists”, attempt their greatest comeback yet: overturning a 3-0 first-leg defeat. There is, Klopp says, only one way to approach this quarter-final decider and, with Robert Lewandowski back from suspension, they can depend on a man who lifts their game to another level according to wary Carlo Ancelotti. Klopp is not giving up hope as he stated that, “I don’t think it is difficult to choose an approach for tomorrow’s game. We got a result in Madrid which does not leave us with much choice. As always, we will give our all to win. I cannot understand 100% why so many people are saying that we have to score in the first five minutes. I don’t know how many miracles have been proclaimed before they happened. We don’t have any right to speak about that, but we have the right to give everything tomorrow and perform with will power. If we somehow get a result that takes us through, then great; if not, we want to say goodbye to the Champions League with a good performance”. Ancelotti is also demanding a good performance from his players, “Lewandowski returning makes this a different game. Everyone knows the quality he brings. His Dortmund team-mates are always able to find him. His presence lifts them to another level. You don’t even think about possibly going out. Ifs and buts are of no use in football. You don’t bother. It will be our task to give our best and play like we did in the first leg. Tonight, it is the quarter-final second leg and there is no need to motivate the players. We are within touching distance of the semis – what bigger motivation do you need? There is no need to change the system or go for a more defensive approach. They have 90 minutes to score three, four goals. We have 90 minutes to score one, which would make things very difficult for them. The earlier we score, the easier it will be for us”. Dortmund won just their fourth home game in 12, coming from behind to beat Wolfsburg with the help of Lewandowski’s 17th Bundesliga goal this season. Madrid have gone through in 42 of 55 European ties after winning the first leg at home, including all eight when they initially triumphed 3-0, most recently against Galatasaray AŞ in their 2012/13 quarter-final