Dortmund's Şahin clings to faint hope

Borussia Dortmund's players cut a dejected group as they made their way towards the team bus last night, contemplating the difficult task that awaits in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg following a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid CF. Speaking to UEFA.com after the match, midfielder Nuri Şahin said that although the deficit was large, coach Jürgen Klopp nonetheless preached belief in his post-match team-talk.

Nuri Şahin, Dortmund midfielder
It was a difficult game for us. We knew that Madrid would bring their quality and speed but we also knew we would have chances, which in the end, we didn't take. We are 3-0 down in the tie but we still have a small chance; our coach told us just that after the game. We missed [the suspended Robert] Lewandowski today and we are happy he will be back next week but it will be another tough game nonetheless. Last year we won the [semi-final] first leg 4-1 and the second game here was very difficult, we lost 2-0 and almost conceded a third, so we know that anything can happen.

Of course the [injuries and suspension] we had played a part tonight but that's not an excuse. We have done alright this season without those players who were missing. We have players with a lot of character. We still have some games to go this season and have goals we still want to achieve.

Roman Weidenfeller, Dortmund goalkeeper
We didn't play with confidence and that's something you can't afford to do at this stadium. [With that mentality], you don't stand a chance. We weren't alert enough during the game's opening period. We made things too easy for Madrid. 

Marco Reus, Dortmund attacker
We could have done more in the game had we played the whole match as we did for a good period in the second half. Looking at the return leg, tonight's result is a bad one. We just have to accept it, however.