Dortmund want to take final step in Champions League berth bid
Dortmund's sports director Sebastian Kehl sits on the players' bench during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1899 Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at PreZero Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpa
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl is convinced that the team will not stumble like two years ago and get the necessary final victory in Saturday's Bundesliga finale to qualify for the next Champions League.
Dortmund are fifth, and a victory by three goals over relegated Holstein Kiel will assure them of a top four finish, regardless of the outcome of the other key match between third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and Freiburg in fourth.
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If Dortmund win by fewer goals they can still qualify for the Champions League, but would need Frankfurt to avoid defeat.
Two years ago Dortmund lost the title race against Bayern Munich because they failed to beat Mainz on the final matchday, but Kehl told Thursday's Kicker sports magazine that this won't happen again.
"We have gotten over that game for a long time. The situation is different now, we're still in the chasing pack and can leap into the Champions League places with a win," he said.
Kehl urged an all-out effort from the team, which is unbeaten in seven games of which it has won six, against Kiel who beat Dortmund in the reverse fixture in January.
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"We have treated every game as a final, Saturday's is the last final on the home straight - and we want to leave no doubt from the very first second against Kiel, with whom we still have a score to settle, that we want to take that final step," Kehl said.
"The clear goal is to reach the Champions League."
Kehl also struck a similar line as sporting managing director Lars Ricken when he said there would be no major squad rebuild in summer.
"There are existing contracts to be considered. We also have to consider the economic conditions. We certainly won't be able to make five or six top transfers - in case anyone thinks that," Kehl said.
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