Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Jurgen Klopp not worried about stars leaving Borussia Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp does not believe that Borussia Dortmund are facing a mass exodus of their players in the event of missing out on qualification for the Champions League.

Midway through the Bundesliga season, BVB are short of fourth place by 12 points, and following 10 defeats and only 15 points from their opening 17 games of the season are currently spending the winter break in the relegation zone.

Despite their poor form, key players like Mats Hummels, who has been linked with Manchester United, have so far remained with the club.

And with just four points separating bottom team Freiburg, who are on equal points with Dortmund, and 10th-placed Paderborn, Klopp has told Sport Bild that he believes his side can avoid relegation.

"I understand that many people have the horror scenario [of a relegation] in their head, but whoever thinks that we can't make up those few points is unreasonably pessimistic," Klopp, who suffered relegation with FSV Mainz in 2007, said. "We've got 17 games to avoid relegation and we will do that."

Dortmund take on Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League in late February, and an exit could meet at least a year-long absence from the competition.

"I am currently not interested in qualification for next year's Champions League. Right now, I don't have any problem with staying in the league and having a year with a load of training next season," Klopp added.

Earlier this week, Dortmund captain Mats Hummels said that he does not need Champions League football to be happy, and Klopp believes that the Germany international will not be the only player withstanding offers from Champions League clubs.

"If there should be a player who wants to leave because of a year without Champions League football, then my rating of him would have been completely wrong," Klopp said.

The BVB manager was reassured by Dortmund-born midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz, who told Sport Bild that he would also go into the second league with his club while adding that he does not fear a mass exodus.

"Borussia Dortmund stays a top address even without Champions League," Grosskreutz said. "It'sa wicked club with wicked fans and a wicked stadium and a whole lot of tradition, too. Players are aware of that.

"I would never leave Borussia just because we don't play in Europe. I love this club, and it will always stay like this."

^ Back to Top ^