Jurgen Klopp believes Borussia Dortmund are in for a very difficult game against Real Madrid tonight.
The sides meet at Santiago Bernabeu in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final and Dortmund are without a number of regulars.
Klopp told a pre-match Press conference that it is a chance for Dortmund’s squad players to show their worth.
“I’m not a magician and we’ve had a lot of adversity to get through this season,” Klopp said.
“There are very good players here and it’s my job to make them better. We’ve done that very well so far.
“The players that don’t feature in every game can grow up in this match.”
Madrid and Dortmund met at the semi-final stage last year with Dortmund reaching the final after a 4-3 aggregate win.
But Klopp warned that Carlo Ancelotti’s side is more dangerous than the Jose Mourinho version dispatched last year.
“Madrid are more flexible now. The speed of their game is amazing,” Klopp added.
“Barcelona, Madrid and Bayern Munich are the three best teams.
“We have to keep evolving. Last year we were an obstacle for Madrid and we want to do that again.”
Klopp conceded that getting Madrid back to Signal Iduna for the second-leg could decide the tie in Dortmund’s favour – unless, he noted, Madrid take a decisive first-leg lead.
“It might be a slight advantage to play the second-leg at home but I fear Madrid trying to settle the tie here,” Klopp revealed.
“I have seen a lot of their games and they always have a scoring opportunity. They have incredible quality and we can’t ignore that.
“But if we play our game and keep our heads up, we will have a chance.
“[Santiago Bernabeu] is an amazing stadium and we will need to have cojones,” Klopp continued.
“Madrid are favourites but they have had their problems this season. But they’re better now.
“We’re used to not being favourites and being uncomfortable opponents. If we’re given space we can be very dangerous.”
Klopp also claimed that even if Dortmund are beaten, the result wouldn’t be the end of the world.
“It’s not a catastrophe if we lose. There aren’t many teams who can say they’ve achieved what we have in the last few years,” he argued.
“Maybe we won’t have the ball but one-on-ones could be decisive.
“Robert Lewandowski’s absence is a pity though. We aren’t ready to play without him.
“But we’re going to do our best. Let’s see what happens.”
