Just cool to be in quarters, says Klopp

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp tried to play down expectations, but admitted it was "extremely cool" to be in the Champions League quarterfinals after its 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday in their last-16, second-leg clash.

Having drawn 2-2 in Ukraine three weeks ago in the first leg, Borussia went through 5-2 on aggregate as goals by Felipe Santana, Mario Goetze and Jakub "Kuba" Blaszczykowski capped the German champion's dominant display.

After the defeat, Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu repeated his bold prediction that the winner of this tie will reach the final at Wembley on May 25 and said he hopes Dortmund proves him right.

"They have a strong team, they were deserved winners and, like I said yesterday, I think the team that won today will reach the final and I wish them plenty of success," said the Romanian.

Lucescu is not alone in backing Borussia.

Before his side crashed out at the hands of Real Madrid at home on Tuesday, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson tipped Dortmund to win the title, but Klopp played down rising expectations.

"We have received many compliments on the way we have played in Europe and it feels good to win, but we can't look further than April 2 when the quarterfinals start," said the 45-year-old.

"There are still lots of strong teams in the competition.

"We are just delighted with the result and I am proud of the team."

Dortmund is in the quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years and can be joined in the last eight by Bundesliga rival Schalke 04, which hosts Galatasaray, and Bayern Munich, which is home to Arsenal, next week.

AFP

(China Daily 03/07/2013 page24)