Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic says his players “must win” when they face 14-time champions Real Madrid in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday.
The German side are huge underdogs, having lost twice in an incredibly long European campaign that came despite a struggling fifth-placed finish in the Bundesliga.
Although Madrid are the most successful team in the history of the competition, Dortmund have advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since losing to Bayern Munich in the 2012/13 final, which was also held at Wembley Stadium.
“You don't play in the final, you win the final – and that's our clear goal,” said Terzic. “We are happy to be here but we have to win at Wembley Stadium when we face Real Madrid to hold the trophy in our hands.
“We know that they are the most successful team in this tournament. We have only lost twice this season but we can see that we are ready to compete at the highest level. If you postpone one game, everything is possible.”
Dortmund 'different' v Real Madrid
Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's six clean sheets means he will end the Champions League season with the most shutouts of any player of his era.
Dortmund overcame a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals and reached the final with a 1-0 consecutive victory over a Paris St-Germain side featuring the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Jamie Carragher Black and Yellow ⚫️🟡
(with @CBSSportsGolazo) pic.twitter.com/gRvXyiCFdZ
– Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 31, 2024
“They have a role as favorites, but we were not favorites when we faced Atletico or Paris,” commented Terzic. “If we are brave and we are not here to see Madrid win their next trophy, we will have a chance.
“We are the team with the most points in the competition. You need to keep the opposition as far away from the goal as possible.
“We weren't at our best when we conceded goals in September but we are a completely different team now and we have shown that we are ready to fight for the cup.”
Terzic's last trophy as a coach is the German Cup in 2020/21, and he has “great respect” for his team-mate Carlo Ancelotti, who is a four-time European champion as a manager and twice as a player.
“He did it with different groups, in different countries and cultures,” said Terzic. “For more than two decades, he has been a success. The way he manages the teams is a good example. He is one of my role models in this business.”
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