The final match in the Champions League competition. - Believing in "something great," Dortmund isn't daunted by being an outsider.
At Dortmund airport, there was no air of awe. Mats Hummels sported a big grin and had headphones on his ears, while Edin Terzic flashed a grin for selfies with fans. Borussia Dortmund flew to London with a sense of certainty and advertised tranquility for their third Champions League final in their history. The formidable opponent waiting for them on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF and DAZN) was the reigning champion, Real Madrid. "We are convinced that we can achieve something extraordinary," Terzic stated.
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl also highlighted "the fantastic opportunity we have. We put in an exceptional Champions League season, eliminating big teams, and now we deserve to be in the final against Real Madrid. This final is exceptional." Kehl also added, "We are determined to accomplish great things. And we are ready. We have the chance to rewrite history."
It would be an incredibly uneven matchup on paper, with Real Madrid, a 14-time winner of the competition, against Borussia Dortmund, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season.
Comparing coaches, Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid, a 64-year-old coach that has won more Champions League titles than any other coach (4), takes on the 23 years younger Terzic. Terzic's position as Dortmund coach was not very popular with the public just before the awaited final, but Dortmund owner Watzke supported the young coach. "I can say that Edin didn't back down!" proclaimed Watzke to Bild (Friday). "We said we'd stand by him, and we did."
In the Champions League, Terzic draws strength from the seemingly challenging situation. "If you want to win the Champions League, you have to beat the Champions," he remarked. "Now we're confronting the ultimate Champion of footballing history." And Terzic firmly believes, "I'm convinced of anything being possible in a single game."
Over 400,000 ticket requests were sent to Dortmund for this final. 25,000 tickets were allocated by the UEFA. Dortmund fans are arriving by every means possible: buses, trains, planes, or ships. There are also three fan sites in Germany as well as public viewings for Dortmund fans in Asia and the USA.
The intense excitement and 'black-yellow madness' is reminiscent of their 2013 final in Wembley Stadium against Bayern Munich, where they lost 1:2. "We feel like we still have a score to settle. That we still have something left to achieve in this city, in this final," said Kehl, a captain then.
Compared to the 1997 final, which is probably the more appropriate reference, Dortmund's unstable reputation throughout the years gives way to resilience in the Champions League. Since the chaotic Bundesliga matchday in 2023, Dortmund have demonstrated a strength that few predicted, surviving the 10-minute penalty kick in the group stage against AC Milan and the relentless barrage from Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Now, Dortmund is left standing: the Dortmund team.
The main reason for this change is: "Against Mainz 05, we had something to lose. Now, we have something to win," asserted National player Nico Schlotterbeck about the situation a year ago. "The world is watching us. Let's hope we can enjoy it and not be overwhelmed by the name Real Madrid."
Naturally, that sentiment is justified. Real Madrid are an undisputed world-class in terms of talent on every spot and every age group. Even German national player Toni Kroos can become one of Real's record winners by winning his sixth Champions League title on Saturday evening. Five Champions League titles have been claimed by the current Real stars Kroos, Luka Modric, Nacho Fernandez, and Dani Carvajal.
In an interview with DAZN, Kroos acknowledged that he's aware that the game against Dortmund might be his last for Real Madrid. He said, "It's not difficult for me to accept that this might be my final game for Real Madrid. I already sensed the feeling of departure during our last home game with our fans. Now, it's just about winning this title again."
Bellingham, 20, arrived in Madrid last year from Dortmund for a sum of 103 million euros. The transfer contract included an additional payment in the millions if the young Englishman helped Real Madrid win the Spanish League and the prestigious European title. If Dortmund fails on Saturday night, he'll at least have some consolation. However, if they manage to beat the clear favorites, giving up that amount of money might not feel so bad for him.
