Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said Wednesday he is optimistic of getting injured midfield star Mario Gotze back in time for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on May 25.
The 20-year-old Germany international limped out of Dortmund's 2-0 semi-final defeat at Real Madrid on April 30 with a torn hamstring and Klopp says next week will be key in deciding whether Gotze runs out for the Wembley final.
"Right now it looks like Gotze could be ready for the final," Klopp said in Wednesday's press conference.
"His recovery is going according to plan. We will intensify training and the plan is that he will begin to train with the team next week.
"Then I hope everything stays as it is, after that we will decide whether it works or not."
The Wembley finale will be Gotze's last game in a Dortmund shirt after last month's announcement that he has actioned a release clause in his contract to join German champions Bayern on July 1 for 37 million euros (US$47.7m).
Dortmund reached the Champions League final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Real in the semi-final and are bidding to win the European title for the second time after their 1997 success.
Having won the Bundesliga title in both 2010-11 and 2011-12, Dortmund have had to settle for second behind Bayern this season.
Source: AFP
