There were 16 microphones set up in front of Jürgen Klopp. There is a huge amount of interest in the “German Clasico”. When Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich line up against each other for the semi-final of the DFB Cup in the Allianz Arena, there will be people watching the game live in more than 200 countries

On the one side the old and new German Champion FC Bayern Munich, on the other side a BVB, who have had their few ups and downs, but found back to form after the winter break. They may be the outsider, but they don’t think they are going there without a chance.

Jürgen Klopp said: “this is the hurdle that we have got to overcome to get to the final. Now we have to face the number one opponent. Now it is the semi-final. Now we have to play away from home. Bayern won’t do you any favours. But we have won there before, we need to give a top performance and be right there where it matters right from the start. This is a final. There is no way you can avoid the intensity of this game.”

„We are difficult to play when we stick to our plan“

1-2, 3-0, 0-1, 1-1, 1-0 and 3-1, these are the results of the last six Black and Yellow away games in the league and in the Cup against the Reds. This is a very respectable record. The Head Coach made sure his team always remembers: “we have to always look back and realise that we were a difficult opponent in all the games where we stuck to our plan.”

The 1-2 in the first half of the Bundesliga season was one of only two BVB matches in the last four years in Munich, where that only partially worked – and this is something to learn from. Dortmund was in the lead by 1-0 up to the 72nd minute through a goal by Marco Reus, however they could not repeat the strong and courageous performance of the first half and then they conceded twice. Klopp: “we only did a good job for one half when we last played in Munich.”

When they have their team talk, the Head Coach will very much focus on this again: “you cannot play in a passive way against Bayern. We have to be right on our game for the full 90 minutes. We can’t just leave a superficial impression, we have to give it our all.” And he continued: “you have to attack and defend as and wherever the opponent lets you and you have to play wherever the opponent gives you space.”

And then you have to be clinical in the finish. Because the target is Berlin. The departing Head Coach said: “everyone wants to go there, everyone wants to experience that again.” Munich is the last hurdle on the way to the final. Boris Rupert

You will find all match previews here