The Germans have fallen seven points off the pace
in the Bundesliga, while their European hopes are hanging by a thread,
but their coach is expecting a backlash against Napoli
After a shock loss at Wolfsburg, they slipped seven points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after being routed 3-0 by their great rivals at the weekend, while a 1-0 reverse at home to Arsenal on matchday four has left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
However, Klopp insists that his players have not been affected by their disappointing run of form and is expecting them to bounce back in Tuesday's must-win European showdown with a Napoli side that will arrive at Signal Iduna Park on the back of successive Serie A losses.
"We cannot influence public opinion about our games. We have lost three in a row, but some players had internationals in between and won there, so that should give them a boost," the Dortmund boss reasoned.
"We have the feeling we've dropped some points along the way, points we would have liked to have taken, but this will help Napoli only if we play badly tomorrow.
"We are highly focused and cannot be knocked off course so easily.
"Napoli lost against Parma [on Saturday] but I don't think anyone there is speaking of a crisis.
"Maybe two 'crisis-stricken' clubs will meet now – in the end hopefully nobody will notice that on the pitch.
"Some people have said this is the strongest of all the groups. Some have said it is the most exciting one. It will depend on us to keep things exciting.
"Nobody can be sure of themselves. What is a fact is that if we don't win twice, starting from tomorrow, things will be difficult for us."
Dortmund currently sit third in Group F, three points behind Arsenal and Napoli, who only need to pick up a point at Signal Iduna Park to seal their place in the last 16. ------------------ goal.com
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