Mourinho rallies Madrid for Dortmund decider

Real Madrid CF can only improve on their semi-final first-leg performance against Borussia Dortmund, with José Mourinho demanding his players get tough for what he believes is the club's "most important match in ten years".

The Merengues coach says his charges must fight until the "last breath" in the hope of retrieving the situation against the Bundesliga team, who are on the brink of their first UEFA Champions League final since winning the competition in 1997 after last week's 4-1 home success. Despite that imposing advantage, discerning Dortmund boss Jürgen Klopp will not dare to dream, remaining steadfast in the belief his side have achieved nothing yet. 

Madrid
José Mourinho, coach
It is difficult to say what mathematical chance we have [of progressing]. I've already said everything to my players. The most important thing was to talk about the mistakes we made in Dortmund. At most clubs success belongs to everyone and failure to the coach. Sometimes football is not fair to one team, but it was in Dortmund and Borussia deserved to win. Anything is possible though.

We played badly in Dortmund and it's difficult to believe we are going to do the same again. I want mental toughness from my players. We have to enjoy ourselves on the pitch, although we are in a difficult situation. We have to play it minute by minute and goal by goal until the last breath of the match. We may ultimately lose the game, but we will have no chance if we play like we did in Dortmund.

I feel this is the most important match in ten years for Real Madrid, but I also felt that in Dortmund and we played like [it was] a friendly. If I don't win the Champions League nothing changes. There are many coaches who haven't won it, so I have to thank God because I've done so twice. I have considered Borussia candidates to win the competition since the beginning of the season.

Weekend result
Saturday: Club Atlético de Madrid 1-2 Madrid (Falcao 4; Juanfran og 13, Di María 63)
López; Essien (Varane 70), Carvalho, Albiol, Nacho; Khedira, Pepe; Di María (Modrić 77), Kaká (Alonso 67), Benzema; Morata. 

• The Merengues recovered from an early Falcao header to claim a record-extending sixth Liga win at the Vicente Calderón in the Madrid derby, Ángel di María scoring the winner; his free-kick had brought the opener via a Juanfran deflection. Mourinho made eight changes to the side that started in Dortmund, with only Diego López, Sami Khedira and Pepe retaining their places.

Team news
Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed out against Atlético because of a thigh complaint, trained on Tuesday and is "OK" to play. Álvaro Arbeloa (back) and Marcelo (thigh) are still unavailable, while Fàbio Coentrão and Sergio Ramos were rested in the derby. Michael Essien returned from a muscle strain.

Dortmund
Jürgen Klopp, coach
We thrilled our fans in the first leg and everyone knows how we can play but let's see what happens. Madrid will try everything. We are not in the final but the first-leg result was better than expected. We will have to fight tomorrow with all our strength. It would be silly for us to have a clear idea of what we are going to do as Madrid can pose us problems. We have great attacking potential and we proved that in the first leg.

For Borussia fans, being in this competition is very special. I've heard around 8,000 of our supporters are coming here. Back home, the supporters will also live the game intensely. In all households and bars back home many people will be following us. We can fulfil the dream of many fans and so we must respond in the correct manner.

The team needs to be disciplined and compact while also looking to be daring. We've had this idea of how to play for a long time, it is not mine, it belongs to the team. I didn't invent the game. Theories are easy, it's putting them into practice that counts.

Nobody could have imagined we'd be here only a few years ago though we haven't achieved anything yet. Anything can happen in football. We must concentrate on what happens out on the pitch tomorrow. I fully believe my team will play correctly and we will be hard to beat. 

Weekend result
Saturday: Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-2 Dortmund (Bodzek 88; Şahin 20, Błaszczykowski 70)
Langerak; Kirch, Santana, Hummels, Grosskreutz; Şahin, Kehl; Hofmann (Reus 79), Leitner (Lewandowski 69), Bittencourt (Błaszczykowski 69), Schieber.

• Nuri Şahin's third goal since returning to Dortmund in January set the visitors on their way to a season high sixth successive victory. He was one of ten changes to the side that started against Madrid, with only Mats Hummels retaining his place. Robert Lewandowski's club record 12-match scoring run in the Bundesliga came to an end.

Team news
Łukasz Piszczek is a major doubt with a groin strain that ruled him out on Saturday, when İlkay Gündoğan (neck) and Mario Götze (muscular problem) were both rested as a precaution. They will be back but Piszczek faces a late fitness test.

Match fact
• Dortmund have surrendered a three-goal first-leg lead before – the only time in 14 UEFA ties they lost overall after winning the first game at home. Club Brugge KV turned round a 3-0 reverse in Germany with a 5-0 home success in the 1987/88 UEFA Cup third round.