Kovac: Fighting Kiel is a decisive battle for the Champions League, and Dortmund has won many decisive battles in recent weeks

May 16th, Dortmund will play against Kiel at home this Saturday. This game will determine whether the Yellow and Black Legion can qualify for the Champions League next season. Coach Kovac said that their preparations for such a decisive battle are no different, and their current goal is to take the last step to defeat the opponent and realize their dreams.

The Yellow and Black Legion currently has its own destiny: as long as they defeat Kiel by at least two goals at home, and there is no extreme big score result in the direct dialogue between Freiburg and Frankfurt, Dortmund can lock in the Champions League qualification without being affected by other match results. Currently, Dortmund ranks fifth in the standings with 54 points (Europa League seat), only 1 point away from Freiburg, which ranks fourth, while Frankfurt ranks third with 57 points.

Kovac made it clear that he regarded Saturday's game against Kiel as a final battle for Champions League qualification, but he also emphasized: "We have played a lot of final games in the past few weeks. We were forced to win the game, we hope to win, and in the end we won."

Data shows that in the past 11 league rounds, no team has won so many points (25 points) and goals (31 goals) like Dortmund. In terms of conceding goals, Dortmund only conceded 13 goals, and only Bayern can stand side by side in this regard (the same 13).

Because of this, Dortmund will face the final round with the same attitude as in the past few weeks. Kovac explained: "We will not change any process. This is very important to me, because the past few weeks show that a lot of what we have done is right, so our training schedule this week is also in the previous pattern."

Just like in the previous rounds, Dortmund must win this round to ensure a Champions League place, and unlike Dortmund, opponent Kiel has been confirmed to be relegated. Kiel coach Rapp said at a press conference on Thursday that the team hopes to bid farewell to the Bundesliga with a victory with about 8,000 fans.

Dotter is prepared for this and does not intend to underestimate Kiel: in the first half of January, Keel defeated Dortmund 4-2. Kovac pointed out: "They are a team that has played very threateningly against each other, and they have performed well in their recent away games."

Kovac mentioned Kiel's away victory at Augsburg (3-1) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-3), and said: "This game will not be easy, but we want to achieve our goals. We must do our best to do this."

In terms of lineup, Schlottbeck, Bayer and Gross from Dortmund will be absent. As for Benzebaini, who had bandaged his legs in the match against Leverkusen, Kovac removed the alarm: "His situation is not serious, they participated in all training sessions."

Kovac also said: "Doth wants to achieve the goal we all dream of through a victory against Kiel." To this end, Dovac must once again show the state that has made them so powerful in the past few weeks, so that he can take his destiny into his own hands again in the last round. Kovac: "It's a wonderful feeling, and we've been working on it for a long time. Now, it's time for us to take the last step."