Terzic demands Dortmund embrace underdog tag in Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic wants his players to embrace their underdog tag and insists past disappointments only fuel the will to win the Champions League.
Opponents Real Madrid are looking for a 15th triumph in the competition while Dortmund, winners in 1997, have lifted just two German Cups and the German Supercup since their last appearance in the final 11 years ago.
The club has gained an unwanted reputation for near misses, registering an 11th record runners-up finish in the Bundesliga last year having gone into the final day knowing a win would have guaranteed the title.
They return to Wembley with two survivors – Marco Reus in his final match for the club and Mats Hummels – from the team that lost in the 2013 final to Bayern Munich thanks to a goal in the 89th minute.
Terzic said they had used those players’ experiences, plus those of his backroom staff Nuri Sahin and Sven Bender who were also involved in that game, and their most Bundesliga heartbreak as part of their preparations.
“We are always exchanging experiences and we are using these experiences from our players,” said the Dortmund boss.
“We had many chats in the last weeks and days and it is important they know how special this game is.
“Maybe if you are a young player, as was the case in 2013, you think, ‘It is my first final and there are more to come’ but it is not easy to get into a final.
“The last (league) game last season is now part of our life and now part of our path to success.
“If I am honest I don’t think this was the most beautiful chapter in my life but I think it was the most important chapter as it shows you it doesn’t matter how tough it is, stand up and go again.
“Last year we found out how tough it can be but that doesn’t matter anymore as we are here in the Champions League final and this is the beautiful part of our sport.”
Ancelotti urges Real Madrid to handle fear and earn Champions League glory
Carlo Ancelotti wants his Real Madrid players to feel the fear of the Champions League final when the anthem plays ahead of kick-off at Wembley on Saturday.
The record 14-time winners will be heavy favorites when they face Borussia Dortmund but Ancelotti – the competition’s most successful manager with four titles – knows nothing is guaranteed.
Madrid beat holders Manchester City on penalties and scored two late goals to beat Bayern Munich in the semi-final to secure their spot under the Wembley arch.
“A Champions League final is the most important game and the most dangerous one,” Ancelotti said on the eve of the clash.
“It is a double-edged sword, we need to enjoy it to the maximum, and then concern starts that it could go wrong because we are so close to the most important thing in football, which is winning a Champions League.
“There is a fear, a concern out of that. It is a feeling we all have inside. We have extreme happiness, but you have to be a bit lucky, play well, and never lower your guard but when you reach a final success is so close that you start worrying.
“It is going to start tonight, tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon. A lot of fear is normal. If you have more fear you will be happier if you are able to win in the end.”
Ancelotti confirmed Thibaut Courtois would start in goal despite only playing four games this season due to injury with Andriy Lunin only travelling on the day of the game due to illness to be on the bench.
“Emotions arrive, everyone has to manage them individually according to their own character,” he added.
“But of course, there will be emotions, maybe some concern before the game but managing those emotions is an important thing if we are going to do things well.
“Throughout the season my team has proven two very important things, quality – which is fantastic in every case, with another important component which is sacrifice for the team, the collective attitude of my team – it has been able to prove that. Sacrifice plus quality is going to be the key for tomorrow’s game.”
