Pre-Match Report
Niko Kovac: "Every opponent has their weaknesses"
Niko Kovac on the personnel situation:
"Of course, we're very sad that Nico (Schlotterbeck, editor's note) is injured. He was looking forward to this game, like we all are. Pascal Groß won't be playing either because he's suspended. But otherwise everyone is on board at the moment."
… on the strategy for tomorrow evening:
"It wouldn't be sensible for me to start philosophising now about everything we're planning. I think we have a good idea of what we need to do. It's about the players feeling confident and bringing everything that's needed to the pitch for us to win the game. We want to perform here tomorrow so that we can go back to Dortmund with a good result."
… on the selection of the favourite:
"Barcelona are certainly the favourites. But as you know, BVB were in the final last year - and no one expected that. In football anything is possible, especially when you're already in the quarter finals. And they're elite quarter finals. There are some great teams, including ourselves. And we've worked hard and fought hard for that. We might be going into it as the outsiders, the underdogs, but that certainly doesn't make it any easier for our opponents. We're confident in ourselves, and we have every reason to be. We're on an upward trajectory. In these two games - Barcelona will be coming to Dortmund as well - there's no doubt that we're in with a chance of reaching the semi-final."
… on Barcelona's 140 goals in 50 competitive games:
"Of course we're aware of the offensive power that we can expect to come up against. We need to defend well and be disciplined in our defence. We've prepared for the game very well - just like we have for all our other games in the past few weeks. Our boys know exactly where Barcelona's strengths are. And they sure have a lot of them. But there are always weaknesses too, and we want to exploit them. Every opponent has their weaknesses."
… on the possibility of Carney Chukwuemeka appearing in the starting eleven just four days after the game in Freiburg:
"Carney played 70 minutes, and he played extremely well. I do believe he would be able to be on the pitch from the start of the game tomorrow too. Of course, I'm not going to say whether he will or not. It took some time to bring him forward. He's a player who will definitely help us with his quality. Whether that will be from the start of the game or later on, we'll have to wait and see tomorrow..."
… on Ramy Bensebaini, who was injured after the game in Freiburg:
"Ramy seems to be back on form again. The doctors have given the green light, which is why he joined in with training today. He's fit to play, as is Niklas Süle."
… on Pascal Groß's yellow card suspension:
"We'll miss Pascal a lot. In the last few weeks he's been doing extremely well in his position in midfield, he's always free to pass to, and he's someone who takes matters into his own hands. Unfortunately he won't be playing now, but we'll find another solution. Felix Nmecha is definitely one alternative, both for tomorrow and also for the next few games."
… on being reunited with Hansi Flick:
"We know and respect one another as people. Not only that - I know how he sees football. And he knows how I see football. It's unlikely that there will be any big surprises."
Recorded by Boris Rupert