Dortmund will fight for the top spot in Group F to seek a moral boost ahead the next round

Record ID: 76015

  • Title: Dortmund will fight for the top spot in Group F to seek a moral boost ahead the next round
  • Date: 6th December 2016
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (DECEMBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH THOMAS TUCHEL ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH THOMAS TUCHEL, SAYING: "The important thing of being first in the group is just to prove that you achieved to be the first. That is why tomorrow we are going to try to win. That is the value, the confidence that it would give you. The confirmation that you, at this level, this atmosphere, you can win. And that is the valuable thing. It is not a tactical value to achieve an advantage, is not." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH THOMAS TUCHEL ON REUS: "I don´t know if I can answer that one hundred percent. The problem is that yesterday he caught a cold. It makes it more difficult for him, he is not feeling that well right now. He is not one hundred percent so we will have to wait till tomorrow midday to make a decision." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BORUSSIA DORTMUND COACH THOMAS TUCHEL, SAYING: "We cannot achieve our goals without him. He is our forward and an extraordinary person. His contributions make us better and make me better as a coach. Everybody in the team knows that in any moment he can be the difference. I believe it is normal that Auba (Aubameyang) wants to play in Real Madrid sometime. I think nearly all talented players in the world would like to play in the best teams in the world and Real are amongst the best." TUCHEL LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM BARTRA ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BORUSSIA DORTMUND FULL BACK MARC BARTRA, SAYING: "Truth to be told to come to the Bernabeu is always special. Previously because of the rivalry between my previous team but now it is also very special for me to come here with Dortmund and battle for the first position in the group. I think we might watch one of the best matches in Europe." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BORUSSIA DORTMUND FULL BACK MARC BARTRA ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE LA LIGA AND THE BUNDESLIGA: "To me they are two of the best leagues. There is also the Premier (League) of course. The Bundesliga regarding intensity and the physical and mental demand is very challenging. They never give up, in that aspect it is above the Spanish one. There is intensity in every game." BARTRA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM PLAYERS TRAINING AT THE BERNABEU STADIUM FORWARD MARCO REUS AT SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP TUCHEL ATTENDING SESSION PLAYERS TRAINING GOALKEEPER ROMAN WEIDENFELLER TRAINING MIDFIELDER ANDRE SCHURRLE PASSING THE BALL TO REUS STRIKER PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG TRAINING STRIKER ADRIAN RAMOS TRAINING PLAYERS TRAINING AUBAMEYANG AND FORWARD OUSMANE DEMBELE TRAINING PLAYERS TRAINING AT THE SANTIAGO BERNABEU STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2016 19:55
  • Keywords: Real Madrid Borussia Dortmund Champions League Tuchel
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • City: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BQXE7Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Borussia Dortmund have already qualified for the Champions League last 16 but the team is intent on taking top spot in Group F as a test of the level of the team, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Tuesday (December 06).
    Real and Dortmund have reached the knockout stage of Europe's elite competition, although Zidane's side, who trail leaders Dortmund by two points, need to beat the Germans to avoid finishing second in their group for the first time in four years.
    But the Germans won´t relax and the victory is one of their priorities for Wednesday's match.
    "The important thing of being first in the group is just to prove that you achieved to be the first. That is why tomorrow we are going to try to win. That is the value, the confidence that it would give you. The confirmation that you, at this level, this atmosphere, you can win. And that is the valuable thing. It is not a tactical value to achieve an advantage, is not," Tuchel said at a news conference previewing the match.
    Dortmund´s injury problems pile up ahead of the Bernabeu clash with midfielder Mario Goetze out due to a knee injury.
    Full back Raphael Guerreiro is expected to be out after sustaining muscle soreness during international duty and forward Marco Reus is struggling with a cold.
    "The problem is that yesterday he caught a cold. It makes it more difficult for him, he is not feeling that well right now. He is not one hundred percent so we will have to wait till tomorrow midday to make a decision," Tuchel said.
    In form striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a Real Madrid move and his coach said that although it is not strange for a top player to want to play for the current Champions League holders, he does not want to lose him.
    "We cannot achieve our goals without him. He is our forward and an extraordinary person. His contributions make us better and make me better as a coach. Everybody in the team knows that in any moment he can be the difference. I believe it is normal that Auba (Aubameyang) wants to play in Real Madrid sometime. I think nearly all talented players in the world would like to play in the best teams in the world and Real are amongst the best," he said.
    Former Barcelona full back Marc Bartra spoke about returning to the Bernabeu with a different team and compared the Spanish league to the German Bundesliga.
    "Truth to be told to come to the Bernabeu is always special. Previously because of the rivalry between my previous team but now it is also very special for me to come here with Dortmund and battle for the first position in the group. I think we might watch one of the best matches in Europe," he said.
    "The Bundesliga regarding intensity and the physical and mental demand is very challenging. They never give up, in that aspect it is above the Spanish one. There is intensity in every game," he added.
    Real Madrid are seeking a club record 34 games unbeaten in all competitions.
    The team is boosted by the return of Toni Kroos from a foot injury and Alvaro Morata from a hamstring problem, making Gareth Bale the only major absentee.
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