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When BVB opened up their Youth League group-stage campaign with a 2-0 home defeat against FC Copenhagen and found themselves six points behind both the Danish outfit and Manchester City after two rounds of matches, the prospect of reaching the European knockout phase seemed to have already disappeared from view. “Nobody gave us a chance anymore,” said Mike Tullberg. But things turned out differently. Captain Nnamdi Collins & Co stabilised their performances and followed up a 1-1 draw at Sevilla with a 2-0 win in the return fixture, before drawing 3-3 with Manchester City and recording a 1-0 victory in Copenhagen on the final day of the group stages thanks to Paris Brunner’s 87th-minute goal. “This team have developed an impressive mentality over the course of the season,” Mike Tullberg said.

They showed heart and soul to come back from a 1-0 deficit and ultimately run out 2-1 winners against Hibernian in the play-off round in Edinburgh. But the biggest scalp came in the round of 16 when they eliminated the Paris Saint-Germain U19s, the heavy favourites, 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in normal time. “It was also a convincing performance in footballing terms,” declared Mike Tullberg, who had set his team up to tactical perfection to face an opponent brimming with individual quality.

Next they are up against Hajduk Split on the big stage at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. “It’s great and a huge sign of recognition that the club have made it possible for us to play in front of what we hope will be a big crowd in the stadium. The boys, who are representing the club and the Bundesliga outstandingly in Europe, have earned this too. There’s huge excitement. We want to enjoy this experience,” said Tullberg, who is hoping for a better outcome in this quarter-final tie than the one a year ago when BVB were very unfortunately eliminated following a 1-0 to Atletico Madrid.

“An unpleasant and strong opponent”

The Croatian champions comfortably beat Azeri representatives Gabala (3-0, 2-1) and AK Apolonia Fier from Albania (3-1, 3-0) in the early rounds of the “Domestic Champions Path”, which takes place in parallel to the UEFA Youth League group stages, to qualify for the play-off round where they eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk with a 1-0 win. Hajduk then pulled off a similarly big upset to BVB against PSG by knocking out Manchester City with a 2-1 victory in the round of 16. “They deservedly won the match,” stated Mike Tullberg. 

The coach described Hajduk as “a robust and technically very good team that are unpleasant to play against, compact at the back and masters at switching the play.” He warned of Hajduk’s quick counter-attacks and dangerous set-pieces. “It’s important that the team knows in which spaces they can take risks and in which they should avoid doing so if possible.” The side from Split also boast quick and dangerous strikers. Jere Vrcic and Roko Brajkovic are among the club’s most talented youngsters, as is central defender Simun Hrgovic.

“We’ve had good experiences with knockout matches because it’s been all or nothing for us since February, in the UEFA Youth League and the Bundesliga,” said Mike Tullberg, as he looked ahead to the big occasion with confidence. On the personnel front, the team will line up similarly to the PSG game. Should they overcome the next hurdle, they would write another chapter in the Borussia Dortmund history books by becoming the club’s first U19 team to reach the Final Four in Nyon. Their opponent in the semi-finals on 21 April would be the winner of the match between AC Milan and Atletico Madrid.

The match will be shown live on BVB TV and DAZN. (wiwi)