Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said Wednesday he is confident his team can beat all-conquering Bayern Munich in the Champions League final to complete their journey back from bankruptcy in 2005, a revival which has been dubbed from "Ground-zero to Wembley".
Dortmund take on Bayern at Wembley on May 25 for the European title, eight years after they had to borrow two million euros ($2.6m) from their Bavarian rivals to pay players' wages.
CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, who helped bring Borussia back from the brink of bankruptcy, has coined the phrase "from Ground-zero to Wembley." His team are classed as underdogs to win at Wembley, but Klopp said they will give their all.
"If we win the final, we won't be the best team in the world, but we will have beaten currently the best team in the world. And that's what could happen. We just want to enjoy the moment," said Klopp.
Klopp admitted Bayern, this season's Bundesliga champions, deserve to start as favourites in what will be the first European Cup final to be contested by two German clubs.
"Bayern Munich have been in the final for the last couple of years and it feels like they have been in the final for the last 10 years," he quipped.
"They are always in the last four, the only surprise in this case is that Borussia Dortmund are there too.
"Nothing has changed in German football, it's only Dortmund who have taken the next step.
"We needed a few special moments to be here.
"We thought it was possible, Bayern Munich are where they should be, in the final. They are one of the best teams in the world at the moment.
"We're here too and we want to fight for our lives, make our parents proud and do everything we can do to be the winner."
Dortmund hope to have hamstring injury victim Mario Goetze fit for Wembley for what would be his final appearance in a Borussia shirt before he joins Bayern in the summer after a release clause in his contract was activated.
"Right now, it looks like Goetze could be ready for the final," said Klopp.
"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."
Dortmund have won the Champions League once before, in 1997, while Bayern were the last German team to win the title back in 2001 and are bidding to win the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
Bayern beat Dortmund 1-0 in the German Cup quarter-final in Munich in February and will face Stuttgart in the final on June 1.
Meanwhile, Klopp said no decision will be made public on the future of Robert Lewandowski until after the Champions League final, despite the Polish striker stating he will not extend his current contract, which is due to expire in June 2014.
"Robert, along with the rest of us, is focused on the final," insisted Klopp, who is reported to be interested in signing Porto striker Jackson Martinez.
"I assume, as of today, that he will also be playing with us."
"When the game is over, then we can look at a few other things."
Source: DSG
