Tuesday 16 September 2014 23:40, UK
Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has praised his 'brave' players following their 2-0 UEFA Champions League win over Arsenal.
Goals from Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured a comfortable victory over a below-par Arsenal, who struggled to cope with the Bundesliga side’s pressing game.
Following the clash at the Westfalenstadion, Klopp revealed his delight at the result and believed his players were tactically superior.
"It was really a great performance from my team. Our pressing was perfection – we were really strong," Klopp told Sky Sports.
"We were brave, we were fast and we gave everything we needed for this game. You give them one metre space and they’re so strong.
"Some of the counter-pressing situations in the midfield were perfect. We needed to be brave for this against these strong players," he added.
"I enjoyed this game from the first second to the last."
Klopp laughed off suggestions that the win signalled a new era for Dortmund and immediately shifted his focus to this weekend’s Bundesliga clash against his former side Mainz.
"We did what we had to do to win this game and for us, it was near perfection," he said.
"In three days, we have to play against Mainz. It’s hard work all the time but when you see games like this, it’s the best job in the world.”
Immobile scored his first goal for the club after joining from Torino in the summer, and the Italian striker was glad to prove his doubters wrong after his well-taken strike gave Dortmund the lead just before half-time.
"I'm happy about the score. Someone was already saying I was a failure", he told Sky Italia.
"It's normal having difficulties at the beginning. I'm working a lot and the coach and team-mates are helping me a lot, too.
"The goal is dedicated to my family, because they know how much I’ve suffered at the beginning. Klopp chose me and he gave me time, it's because he knows how much I can give."
