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Champions League Final: Dortmund's Aspiration to Upset Real Madrid |
Borussia Dortmund's coach, Edin Terzic, holds the belief that "anything is possible" as his team sets out to upset Real Madrid in the upcoming Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London.
The illustrious Spanish team, Real Madrid, are the heavy favorites to claim their 15th European championship title, and their sixth in the past 11 seasons, facing a Dortmund squad that has defied expectations to reach the final in London.
Madrid's record this season boasts only two losses in 54 matches across all competitions, clinching the La Liga title with a 10-point lead and securing the Spanish Super Cup with a 4-1 victory over Barcelona.
Yet, they've had to rally once more to make it to what Carlo Ancelotti, their coach, calls the "biggest game of any season" in the Champions League.
Ancelotti's squad endured a tough challenge from the reigning champions, Manchester City, to win their quarter-final match on penalties, followed by a remarkable comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu to defeat Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
"We always maintain our belief, regardless of the situation," stated Luka Modric, who, alongside Nacho, Dani Carvajal, and Toni Kroos, could win the European Cup for a record-tying sixth time as a player in his final club match.
"We persist in our belief, continue to strive, and fight until the very end. Ultimately, we always find a way to overcome our rivals."
"People often attribute it to luck, but when it occurs repeatedly, I believe it's more than just luck."
Madrid's Influence on Bellingham's Career at Dortmund
Jude Bellingham's journey is indicative of the challenge Dortmund faces.
Snatched from Birmingham in the English Championship as a young player, he was honed by Dortmund before Madrid acquired him for a transfer fee exceeding 100 million euros ($109 million) a year ago.
In his absence, Dortmund had a challenging domestic season, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind Bayer Leverkusen.
Nonetheless, Terzic's team has performed exceptionally in the Champions League, reaching the final for the third time in the club's history and the first since their defeat to Bayern Munich at Wembley 11 years prior.
Dortmund emerged victorious from the 'group of death' that included Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle.
They then dispatched PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid, followed by a formidable defensive effort that shut out PSG across two legs in the semi-finals.
"They may be the favorites, but that doesn't concern us; we weren't the favorites against Atletico or PSG either," Terzic remarked.
"But if we show courage and come not merely to witness Real Madrid's victory but to challenge them, then we stand a chance."
Contrasting with Madrid's reputation as the competition's royalty, Dortmund's sole Champions League triumph dates back to 1997.
An estimated 100,000 Dortmund supporters have traveled to London, despite the club receiving an allocation of only 30,000 tickets.
Marco Reus, one of the two Dortmund players from the team that faced Bayern at Wembley 11 years ago, is hopeful for a storybook conclusion to his tenure with the club.
Saturday marks Reus' 429th and final match with Dortmund, potentially culminating in a storybook victory.
"There's nothing more fulfilling than playing your last match in a Champions League final and emerging victorious," expressed Reus, who celebrated his 35th birthday on Friday.
"Our goal now is to secure the trophy, as we can't even begin to imagine the celebrations in Dortmund the following day."
UEFA anticipates that the spotlight will remain on the players on the pitch at the end of the match, validating their decision to select Wembley for another significant final.
The Euro 2020 final three years ago was overshadowed by disturbances when fans without tickets forced their way into the stadium.
The English Football Association has invested £5 million ($6 million) in enhancing Wembley's safety and infrastructure, which is also slated to host the Euro 2028 final.
