“It’s about keeping the pressure up. That only works if we pick up three points week-in, week-out. Then it might get close and exciting once again on the final matchday,” said BVB coach Edin Terzic in the run-up to Matchday 31. Borussia Dortmund will be aiming to pick up the next three points against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday (17:30 CET).

Following the 1-1 draw away to VfL Bochum and the loss of top spot in the table, Borussia quickly shifted their focus to the next challenge. In a meeting on Saturday morning, the coaches and players drew a line under the Little Derby and subsequently completed “a really good training session”, according to Terzic. After a few days off, the Black & Yellows have been focusing on the Wolfsburg match since Tuesday. The personnel situation looked good throughout the training week, according to the coach. “We had a lot of outfield players on the pitch this week, we had 26 players on the pitch at times.” Several of them are still getting up to speed in training but they’re almost all available to play.

Raphael Guerreiro, who picked up a knock to the calf in Bochum, and Nico Schlotterbeck are the only doubts. Both have not been able to train fully recently but are expected to be back out on the pitch with the team on Friday. The development in the coming days will determine whether both are available to play against Wolfsburg on Sunday.

Talented and physically strong

Terzic believes that the next opponents are doing a “really good job”. The Wolves are not playing on the international stage this season and have used the extensive time on the training ground well. “They do all the things that you have to do as a team outstandingly well,” the BVB boss noted. “Lots of little things, whether it’s blocking from throw-ins, counter-attacking play, kick-offs, goal kicks – they always come up with something new.” In his opposition analysis, Terzic has not only observed a talented team but a physically strong one too. “They are really big and have a lot of sprinters in their ranks. That, combined with the coach’s good ideas, is always a dangerous combination for the opponent,” said the BVB coach of Nico Kovac’s side, who claimed a 2-0 victory against BVB in the reverse fixture and currently sit seventh in the table. “We’ve been warned, not only by the reverse fixture but also when you look at their current form. Nonetheless, we’re confident and know that there are more appealing tasks for Wolfsburg than coming here to Dortmund.”

For Borussia want to win the final four games of the season. “We know that we can win all of the remaining matches, but only if we go to our maximum. That is the challenge for the coming weeks,” commented Terzic. “There’s a huge desire there – not only in the region, not only from the fans but from us too. Despite all the setbacks, we still have our goal within touching distance. Now it’s about doing everything to influence the things that are in our hands.” And, in an ideal world, about picking up the next three points against Wolfsburg.
Christina Reinke

BVB TV by 1&1: The press conference prior to the game against Wolfsburg