Borussia Dortmund embraces the Underdog role in their club World Cup quarterfinals against Real Madrid, coach Niko Kovac said on Friday, while the Bundesliga side wanted to aid a year ago on their last defeat of Champions League.
Dortmund rides high on an unbeaten line of 11 games, but will be confronted on Saturday with heavy opportunities against the LaLiga team under decreasing heat in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Kovac expects a full house with a tough crowd.
The players “know exactly what it means to play against Real Madrid tomorrow,” he told reporters at Metlife Stadium.
“We expect a lot of supporters, especially for Real Madrid. We are here like an underdog, but we also want to show our best face and hopefully – this is what we believe – we can continue to the next round.”
Real Madrid is unbeaten against Dortmund in their last six meetings, after they have won their last four, including their 2-0 win in the Champions League final last year.
The German team hopes that they can turn the opportunities after they have introduced something of a revival since Kovac took course in February. The Croatian manager said his team operates at the “highest level” of trust against Real Madrid.
“We need high self -confidence if we are confronted with Real Madrid,” he said.
“We finished the season fourth (in the Bundesliga season), but it was a photo finish and we had difficult matches to play.
“We played big opponents and the players, they showed that they are able to compete with them all. So I think this is a big reason for me to believe in my players – they know exactly what is needed tomorrow to be at the highest level.”