Dortmund firmly focused on DFB Pokal

Coach Jurgen Klopp has insisted Borussia Dortmund will be focused on their DFB Pokal clash with Hannover despite the upcoming winter break.

Dortmund will take on Hannover on Wednesday in a Round of 16 tie in the cup competition before they take a month off for the annual winter break in German football.

Having won the DFB Pokal last season and considering their poor position in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are keen to stay in the knockout competition to defend their title.

“Nobody is letting themselves think about Thursday and the winter break, instead everyone is focused on the Cup,” Klopp said.

“We all want to progress further, so we’ll give it our best shot on Wednesday.”

Dortmund thrashed Bayern Munich 5-2 in last season’s DFB Pokal final but are 12 points behind the Bavarians in the league heading into the winter break.

Hannover are 11th in the Bundesliga, eight positions and seven points behind Dortmund, with their league clash in October finishing 1-1.

Klopp remains convinced the Cup tie will be a close match especially considering the current fan-groups protest in Germany has taken away from the atmosphere at Dortmund’s normally raucous Westfalenstadion.

“There is no favourite,” Klopp said.

“Normally we would have the advantage to play at home.

“We have to see how the atmosphere in the stadium will be. I wish that the crowd leave these issues out on Wednesday evening and get an appropriate finish to this year. The team deserves that.

“I think none of the guys who will be in the stadium on Wednesday will have a year like that again over the next 20 years.

“That’s why everyone should give everything they have.

“Of course we will try and do so but we can also use a little help.”