''Everyone is placing our common goal above themselves''

The Black & Yellows have been more or less perfect in Dortmund this season. Their home record of 13 wins, one draw and one defeat is the best in the league. ''Our recent home matches have been really good,'' said Terzic, as he took a look back at last Saturday, when BVB romped to a 6-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg. ''Wolfsburg were in really good form coming into the game. We managed to play some really good football, and that was down to our conviction, confidence and quality. That's what it will come down to again when we play Gladbach the day after tomorrow.'' 

To deliver another performance of the same calibre, the Borussia players have been "professional and focused" in training this week. No fewer than 26 outfield players have been put through their paces on the club's training pitches. Not all of them will make it into the matchday squad, let alone the starting XI. ''That can lead to frustration or dissatisfaction. But we have a common goal, which everyone is placing above themselves,'' explains Terzic, going on to add: "We're happy that there's more excitement than there has been for a long time and that we've played our part in that. You can see that everyone is eager to play. The intensity and quality in training have been really satisfying for a coach.'' 

With the exception of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Terzic can call on every player in the squad. The offensive player fell hard on his shoulder in training last week and underwent an operation on Wednesday. He will unfortunately be sidelined for several months.''

The remainder of the squad sweated through an intense training session on Wednesday. The intensity levels were then dropped on Thursday ahead of the final training session on Friday. This is the approach BVB always take ahead of games, and it should now help pick up all three points in the tough task which awaits the Black & Yellows on Saturday.

Terzic was keen to strike a note of caution: ''We've often had a hard time against Gladbach. In the reverse fixture we fell behind early on, spent most of the game chasing after them and lost the game. That can't happen to us this time around. We'll do everything to make sure we're switched on right from the first kick of the ball.'' The BVB head coach views the opposition as a strong footballing side, ''who are very calm on the ball, like to dominate possession and always try to play their way out of trouble. They also have unbelievable pace down the flanks.''

But Terzic also knows one thing: ''I don't think coming to Dortmund and playing against us is one of the more comfortable experiences in the Bundesliga. We want to show why again on Saturday.''

Christina Reinke

BVB-TV by 1&1: the press conference ahead of the game against Gladbach