Coach Jurgen Klopp praised Borussia Dortmund's fans after the anticipated angry backlash to Germany midfielder Mario Goetze's controversial move to rivals Bayern Munich failed to materialise in the win against Real Madrid.
Dortmund routed the Spanish giants 4-1 on Wednesday night with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski becoming the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final.
Dortmund fans had reacted angrily when news broke on Tuesday that Goetze will join Bayern on July 1 after actioning a release clause in his contract. An Internet campaign had threatened a hostile response during the Real match.
While the Signal Iduna Park stadium announcer hurriedly read out the names before kick-off, giving fans little time to boo or jeer the 20-year-old Goetze, the midfield star drew little reaction from the 65,829-strong crowd.
"I wasn't sure, but I hoped the fans would respect him and that's what happened. They were great," said 45-year-old Klopp.
"The most important thing I said to him was that people won't forget that he is going to Bayern, but that the club is behind him.
"He is a young guy and he has to go his own way.
"It was an incredibly good game from him, I hadn't expected it, but he delivered it."
Goetze supplied the pin-point accurate cross which Lewandowski met at the far post for Dortmund's opening goal after only eight minutes.
He played his part in the historic win which leaves Borussia on the verge of their second Champions League final appearance, having won the 1997 title.
"Yeah, we have all talked to him about it, we were all shocked and it was a bit of a blow," said defender Mats Hummels when asked how the team had reacted to the shock news.
"He has to do what he has to do and he's part of the team."
Germany coach Joachim Loew, who gave Goetze his first appearance for Germany as an 18-year-old in October 2010, praised the midfielder, who is sure to be part of his plans at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"The Mario is cool, when he's on the pitch, he forgets everything else," Loew told German broadcaster ZDF.
Goetze's departure will be a loss to Dortmund, who are 20 points behind champions Bayern in the German league having won the last two Bundesliga titles. But Klopp said they would not be distracted in their bid for Euro glory.
"You know how to handle these situations in football, you can't be successful and hope no one will recognise it," he said.
"Each year we lose at least one brilliant player, but we just keep getting better and better.
"It's no problem in the team, but we have to stay focused.
"We just have to enjoy these times together and see what happens at the end of the season."
Source: AFP
