Pre-Match Report
A home game in the Champions League under the floodlights: Pascal Gross looking forward to a "massive highlight"
Nuri Sahin knows the Champions League nights at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK: as both a player and an assist coach, he has already had the chance to savour the atmosphere under the floodlights when the first notes of the Champions League anthem ring out. On Tuesday evening, when Scottish double winners Celtic come to town, he will sit in the technical area as head coach for the first time in a Champions Leage match in Dortmund. "It shouldn't never be taken for granted that we have the privilege to experience nights like these, it has been incredible for a number of years. Every game has its own unique history here in our stadium," says Sahin.
Alongside him at the press conference sat midfielder Pascal Gross. The summer signing has already experienced several memorable moments in his short time at BVB: his first home game in the Bundesliga, his first game under the floodlights at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, his first Champions League game. Now he's looking forward to playing at home in Europe's elite for the first time: "It's something very very special for me," said Gross, going on to add: "The late kick-offs in the Bundesliga have already been incredible. We've won all of them, the fans have often carried us there. The home games are the ones I look forward to most, and playing at home in the Champions League will be a massive highlight for me. I can hardly wait."
The fans as twelfth man
The 4-2 win after going 2-0 down against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Friday night was made possible in no small part by the Black & Yellow fans, something Sahin also highlighted: "The way the fans got involved was incredible. It was like we were playing with an extra man in the second half." He is again hoping for big support from the stands in the game against Celtic: "They should just do what they always do, and we have to finish the rest on the pitch."
Part of that is making sure that the team finds the right balance between attack and defence. In Gross's words: "I'm always someone who days: we defend together, and we attack together. That's why I see Greg as being our first line of attack, and Serhou as our first line of defence. Everybody has to take on their responsibilities on both sides. I will try to contribute my share to that." The new arrival has a new coach and new teammates, and still wants to get to know them better. But he also stresses: "We know that we play for Borussia Dortmund and we have to win games while we find our feet. We managed to do that on Friday night."
And it should stay that way on Tuesday night. Sahin has almost the entire squad at his disposal. Jamie Gittens and Julian Ryerson, who both had to come off injured on Friday, will be available again. Filippo Mane is making his return to team training and Marcel Sabitzer, who had to sit out the Bochum match, will take part in the final session. The Celtic game has come too early for Gio Reyna.
Celtic remain unbeaten
The Scottish side's coach, Brendan Rogers, is one who Sahin played under when he was at Liverpool 12 years ago. "We had a short time together. He comes from the North of Ireland, but he is well versed in the Spanish game, his vision of football revolves around controlling possession. I found his training sessions and his ideas of football to be very very interesting," said Sahin, adding: "We'll see each other again, and I'm looking forward to the showdown.
Celtic are yet to lose a game this season. They sit comfortably atop the Scottish league table with a maximum of 18 points from their six games thus far. They've also won two League Cup games and thrashed Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in Glasgow in their opening Champions League match. "They were very dominant in their first Champions League game. They are a prestigious club with lots of talent in their squad and a fantastic coach. It's going to be a challenge for us, but it will be a big one for them too, one they haven't faced yet this season. I'm looking forward to it. It wouldn't be fair to call them outsiders," said Sahin.
Christina Reinke
BVB-TV by 1&1: the press conference before the game against Celtic