They will be going their separate ways for three hours when the team bus arrives at the stadium. When Borussia Dortmund take on Olympique Marseille in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night (kick-off: 2045 CET), the team will have to without their coach Jürgen Klopp who has been suspended for one match by UEFA.

"Everything is prepared, everything is discussed, everything is arranged," said Jürgen Klopp who is going to hand over his job to assistant coach Zeljko Buvac for the time between 7.30 pm and 10.45 pm on Tuesday. "We´ve been working together for 13 years. I don´t know a better coach. He´s knows football inside-out, and he loves the Bundesliga and the Champions League - but without all the hoopla surrounding it." And that is also why Buvac decided against holding the press conference before and after the game, something he leaves for friend and boss Klopp to do.

image
Zeljko Buvac und Jürgen Klopp arbeiten seit 13 Jahren zusammen. [Fotos: firo]

The one match touchline ban following his dismissal from the dugout at Napoli is seen as a "real punishment" by the Dortmund coach. "For the team, however, it´s not that difficult a situation," said Klopp who had been told by Mats Hummels that he doesn´t care whether Klopp sits in the first or the 16th row. "I don´t think my suspension is a handicap for the team. I´ll be the only one suffering as I won´t be able to do what I love so much."

image
In beiden Spielen 2011 überragend: Marseilles Torwart Mandanda

The BVB coach will only be allowed back to his team 15 minutes after the final whistle when they hope to have bagged their first three points of this year´s Champions League campaign, even if Klopp made clear that this game will not be about making up for the dropped points against Napoli. He said, "We still have lots of time to get those points back. The home game against Marseille has nothing to do with it." BVB are counting on three points, but only for the reason that home games in the Champions League need to be won. "The winner will again have a foot in the door."

Of course, "OM" are also be looking for three points. "We need a good result if we are to still play a role in this group," said Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. "We should not be passive but try to get the best out of this game." However, in the pursuit of this goal, the French outfit will have to do without their injured striker André-Pierre Gignac who stayed in Marseille.

Borussia´s main injury concerns are in defence. Of last year´s regular Champions League starting line-up, the goalkeeper, both full backs and one of the two holding midfielders will be missing the game. And, of course, the coach. But this may not be a bad omen. The last time BVB had to do without their head coach, some 20 years ago, assistant coach Michael Henke (Ottmar Hitzfeld was in the hospital), guided the team to a 1-0 win at Cologne...