Edin Terzic: "We have shown that we are solid" | OneFootball

On Sunday, Borussia Dortmund host newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 CEST.

Both teams were in European action during the week: BVB advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, while Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with West Ham United on Thursday to reach the last four of the UEFA Europa League. "We want to use this energy to not only draw confidence from the game, but also hunger and greed. Now it's about ensuring that the remaining games of the season are similarly successful," said BVB coach Edin Terzic about the Champions League success. "We savoured the joy in the dressing room and in the stadium. The next day we regenerated and since then our focus has been on Leverkusen."

After a high point in Europe, it's now back to the everyday business of the Bundesliga. Karim Adeyemi will be absent for BVB due to the yellow card he received in the 2-1 win in Mönchengladbach, and Donyell Malen may also be sidelined. The winger has yet to return to team training. "It's currently looking tricky this weekend," said Terzic, who is still without Sebastien Haller and Ramy Bensebaini.

Nevertheless, fifth-placed BVB will be looking to pick up points so that they can be guaranteed more nights like the one against Atletico next season. The Black & Yellows are currently level on points with fourth-placed Leipzig, who they will face away from home next week. Fifth place may end up being enough to qualify for the Champions League due to German clubs' good performance in European competition this season. "We are aware of that. But no final decision has been made yet. We are focusing on what things we can still influence: there are 15 points to be gained in the Bundesliga," said Terzic, adding: "That will be enough for us to qualify for the Champions League, and that's our goal."

Leverkusen still in the hunt for a treble

BVB will have to beat their upcoming opponents in order to achieve the maximum 15 points. Last Sunday, Bayer clinched the first league title in the club's history with a 5-0 home win over Werder Bremen. In Terzic's words: "Leverkusen absolutely deserve the title. They are having an exceptional season and breaking record after record. I have great appreciation and respect for their achievement." It is the first of three potential trophies this season for the Werkself, who are in the semi-finals of the Europa League and the final of the DFB-Pokal. Leverkusen have played 44 games this season and not lost a single one yet.

"Now we are the underdogs. Against Atletico and Gladbach we showed that we are solid, and we found the right response to everything that came at us,'' said Terzic, adding: "We are confident that we can do the same on Sunday."

Christina Reinke

BVB-TV by 1&1: the press conference before the game against Leverkusen

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