Borussia Dortmund will have to overcome “Superstar” Sergio Ramos and his winning mentality to reach the quarterfinals of the club World Cup on Tuesday, said coach Niko Kovac of the German team.
Former Real Madrid captain and four-time Champions League winner Ramos, 39, is the defensive leader of Monterrey and Kovac emphasized the will of the Spaniard to win and the aggression of Monterrey.
“He is a superstar, you know,” Kovac told a press conference on Monday prior to the last 16 collision against the Mexican side.
“All players who play for so long … It shows their way of thinking. They are winners, they want to win in every training session, every game, they want to be at the highest level with every pass in training,” the Kroatiaan continued.
“He is a leader, as a leader you want to be on a high stage for as long as possible. It is a bit funny that I am a coach now and he is still a player – but I think he will be a coach.”
Ramos will fight with Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, ​​who excelled this season and ends as the joint-top goal scorer in the Champions League with 13 strikes.
The Guinea International is looking forward to hiring Ramos.
“It will be the first time, I am looking forward to it, I want to play against Sergio Ramos, he is a great defender,” Guirassy told reporters.
“We will have to be strong, simply put.”
Kovac said his team should be aware of the combative style Ramos and his teammates in Atlanta will use.
“The Latin -American teams play robust football, with strong physicality – football is a contact sport, we can't look like basketball,” said Kovac.
“I see it in a positive way, it's the way I like to play. We have to adjust.
“Of course you don't have to be triggered, but I told the players that they should defend themselves if they have to, I think the referees will also have open eyes for that.”
The coach complained about the intense heat at the tournament, forced to play in early kick-offs under a blistering sun, but the match of Tuesday in the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium will offer some relief.
“I think that with my statements I can sometimes be a bit annoying when I talk about certain factors that are repeated,” said Kovac.
“I can say that we look forward to tomorrow, the circumstances will be better. We don't have to play in 45 degrees Celsius.
“We have proven that we can play football with a high intensity and this is what we want to do if it is a bit cooler and the circumstances are not so hot.”