Fans' Goetze reaction pleases Dortmund boss
Coach Jurgen Klopp praised Borussia Dortmund's fans after the
anticipated angry backlash to Germany midfielder Mario Goetze's
controversial move to rivals Bayern Munich failed to materialise in the
win against Real Madrid.
Dortmund routed the Spanish giants 4-1 on Wednesday night with Poland
striker Robert Lewandowski becoming the first player to score four goals
in a Champions League semi-final.
Dortmund fans had reacted angrily when news broke on Tuesday that
Goetze will join Bayern on July 1 after actioning a release clause in
his contract. An Internet campaign had threatened a hostile response
during the Real match.
While the Signal Iduna Park stadium announcer hurriedly read out the
names before kick-off, giving fans little time to boo or jeer the
20-year-old Goetze, the midfield star drew little reaction from the
65,829-strong crowd. "I wasn't sure, but I hoped the fans would respect
him and that's what happened. They were great," said 45-year-old Klopp.
"The most important thing I said to him was that people won't forget
that he is going to Bayern, but that the club is behind him.
"He is a young guy and he has to go his own way.
"It was an incredibly good game from him, I hadn't expected it, but
he delivered it." Goetze supplied the pin-point accurate cross which
Lewandowski met at the far post for Dortmund's opening goal after only
eight minutes. He played his part in the historic win which leaves
Borussia on the verge of their second Champions League final appearance,
having won the 1997 title.
"Yeah, we have all talked to him about it, we were all shocked and it
was a bit of a blow," said defender Mats Hummels when asked how the team
had reacted to the shock news. "He has to do what he has to do and he's
part of the team." Germany coach Joachim Loew, who gave Goetze his first
appearance for Germany as an 18-year-old in October 2010, praised the
midfielder, who is sure to be part of his plans at the 2014 World Cup in
Brazil. "The Mario is cool, when he's on the pitch, he forgets
everything else," Loew told German broadcaster ZDF.
AFP |