The manager was pleased with his side's 3-2 victory
over Hannover on Saturday but admits he is still looking nervously over
his shoulder after what has been a trying season
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says his side are still battling for their Bundesliga survival.The 2011 and 2012 German champions were expected to push Bayern Munich all the way in a battle for the title this season, but a horrendous first half of the season has left them looking nervously over their shoulders rather than up ahead at Pep Guardiola’s runaway leaders.
A 3-2 victory over Hannover on Saturday moved them tenth in the table, 11 points behind fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen and Germany’s final Champions League place – but just eight away from the relegation zone.
Consequently, Klopp says beating the drop remains his primary concern at the moment.
“We are still fighting against relegation,” Klopp told Sky. “But today we can go back home relieved."
Saturday’s victory, which followed back-to-back goalless league draws, saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit his 17th and 18th goals in all competitions, leaving only Bayern duo Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben, and Frankfurt’s Alex Meier, as the only Bundesliga players with better records this season.
The Gabon international insists that while his coach may well be concerned by the threat of relegation, he is focused only on climbing the table.
“This win was very important,” he said. “We can look upwards now.”
Shinji Kagawa grabbed the other goal as Dortmund recorded their 700th Bundesliga victory and ones that means with 18 points since the winter break, they have already bettered their points tally (15) for the entire first half of the season.
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