Dortmund’s ‘heavy metal’ Klopp out to silence Arsenal

DORTMUND - Agence France-Presse

UEFA Champions League Group F football match between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in London is seen in this Oct 22 file photo. The teams are due to play in Germany tonight. AP photo

Borussia Dortmund’s heavy metal-loving coach Jurgen Klopp has said he wants his team to make another loud statement in tonight’s Champions League at home to Arsenal.

Dortmund pulled off an impressive 2-1 win over the Gunners at London’s Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski netting the late winner.

Klopp’s side are now looking to complete the double over Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, but the Borussia boss is full of praise for his opposite number.

“For me, he is ‘Sir’ Arsene Wenger, I love him,” enthused Klopp in an interview with the English media.
“When you look at Arsenal over the last ten years, they have always played almost perfect football. But we all know Arsenal haven’t won a title for a long time (the 2005 FA Cup),” he said.

“Arsenal have a philosophy from Arsene Wenger, I love that, but I can’t coach that way, I am different. He likes to have the ball and play football, passing the ball around,” he also added. “It’s like an orchestra, but they play a silent song. I like heavy metal, I always want it to be loud.” 

Dortmund have certainly made plenty of noise in Group F, bouncing back from their shock 2-1 defeat at Napoli with a 3-0 trouncing of Marseille at home before beating Arsenal in London.

It means there is all to play for with Arsenal, Dortmund and Napoli all tied on six points with the Gunners top of the table only on goal difference.

Lewandowski, who became the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final last season, warmed up for the Gunners with four goals in the 6-1 league rout of Stuttgart last Friday.

Dortmund hope to have captain Sebastian Kehl back in the squad after a six-week injury break due to an ankle injury, but Germany winger Marco Reus insists the hosts can not expect another rout. “It will of course be enormously difficult. We can’t expect as many chances as we had against Stuttgart,” said Reus.

Liverpool boost

Arsenal warmed up for the trip to Germany with an impressive 2-0 home victory over Liverpool to leave them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

“It was important to convince people we can win these big games,” Wenger said of the Liverpool success. 

“Let’s enjoy it, take a lot of encouragement from it and continue to develop as a team, but we must be cautious as well and be on our toes.” 

Defender Kieran Gibbs is also doubtful after limping off in the second half against Liverpool with a calf problem.

Jack Wilshere’s absence with a rolled ankle in training could well see Tomas Rosicky face his former club tonight.

The 33-year-old Czech playmaker signed from Dortmund in May 2006 and who has been hampered by several injury setbacks, feels the Gunners can be confident of building on their positive start.

Rosicky made 126 league appearances for the Bundesliga side during five seasons in Germany after signing from Sparta Prague and is looking forward to a return to the Westfalenstadion.

“I won the league there and played in the UEFA Cup final there so obviously I have a lot of attachments and it will be a special game for me,” he said.