Paul Lambert, a member of Dortmund’s Champions League-winning team from the 1996/97 season, believes the German club can defeat Real Madrid on June 2. Despite Real Madrid being favored for the final at Wembley, with a strong squad including Jude Bellingham, Lambert is optimistic about Dortmund’s chances. He suggests that the team that better capitalizes on opportunities will win the final.
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves also believes that Dortmund can overcome Real Madrid through hard work and extraordinary determination. Do you agree with this viewpoint?
Paul Lambert, a member of Dortmund’s Champions League-winning team from the 1996/97 season, believes the German club can defeat Real Madrid on June 2. Despite Real Madrid being favored for the final at Wembley, with a strong squad including Jude Bellingham, Lambert is optimistic about Dortmund’s chances. He suggests that the team that better capitalizes on opportunities will win the final.
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves also believes that Dortmund can overcome Real Madrid through hard work and extraordinary determination. Do you agree with this viewpoint?
I mostly agree, but performance is key. You won’t win with futile efforts; you need to play well. Sure, running faster or tackling harder helps, but Dortmund also needs good scoring and defense.
Winning depends on many factors. Dortmund players need top performances to outplay their opponent. This will be an interesting match, and the better team will win.
Dortmund must focus on collective strength, especially after parting ways with Haaland and Bellingham. Their collective play remains strong without standout players.
Facing Real Madrid, Dortmund should focus on themselves. They need to give one of their best performances, as this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Dortmund’s situation mirrors 1997, when they faced Juventus in the Champions League final, where everyone expected the Italian team to win.
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- From your perspective, which players from both Dortmund and Real will be decisive in the final at Wembley?
- For Dortmund, a solid defense is mandatory because Real’s counterattack is very sharp. Vinicius and Bellingham are key players. Vinicius can make a difference with his speed and dribbling, so Dortmund must stay alert. Defenders Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck need to play hard and stay focused, as Real can change the game quickly.
In attack, Sancho is explosive, and Niclas Fullkrug, who is having a good season, will face Antonio Rudiger. There will be interesting battles all over the field.
- Jadon Sancho just returned to Dortmund 3 months ago. How do you evaluate his contribution to the club so far? What is it about Sancho that you find interesting?
- Sancho returned to a club that loves him, and the fans helped him integrate quickly. Leaving MU to return to Dortmund was the right decision, as he has old teammates and understands the club’s expectations. This transfer benefited all parties.
Back in Germany, Sancho seems revitalized. His move to MU didn’t work out, but rejoining Dortmund was wise and brought him joy after a difficult period. Dortmund benefits from his excellent form, and he needs to perform well again on the early morning of June 2 (Hanoi time) to help the team.
- Coach Ancelotti said that when he asked Bellingham about Dortmund, he had no answer. Real already has all the information about Dortmund. How do you evaluate Carletto’s comments?
- Exactly. He knows everything about Dortmund, just as Edin Terzic knows everything about Real. Coaches don’t need extra information about their opponents as they thoroughly study each other. The analysis shows the specific strengths of each team in the Bundesliga and La Liga.
Both teams’ coaches understand their opponents well. This is an extremely important match, and both will be well-prepared. I hope Dortmund can win. “The Golden Army” (Dortmund fans) will be very excited in London. I hope this happens.
- Thanks for the interesting insights!
