Cool Dortmund can't wait for Bundesliga restart (News Feature)

By Heinz Buese Jan 12, 2011, 14:13 GMT

Dortmund - Runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund are keeping their cool ahead of the Bundesliga restart in which they face a difficult match at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night.

Coach Juergen Klopp said the team was not burdoned by the expectations and raring to go again after a four-week winter break.

'We are really happy that its starting again, and we have big aims. It can't get any better then starting with such a game. It will be great fun,' said Klopp.

Dortmund hold a big 10-point lead over Mainz 05 and Leverkusen heading into the second half of the season, with champions Bayern Munich 14 points adrift in fifth place.

But Munich have vowed to stage a comeback amid hopes that Dortmund's young team - which only lost the season-opener against Leverkusen and the last game before hibernation against Frankfurt - will crack under pressure.

Dortmund's last test went well in the form of a 4-0 victory against Swiss club Basel. But they will miss Japanese sensation Shinji Kagawa for up to three games over Asian Cup duty and fear for youngster Mario Goetze on Friday over a muscle injury.

Klopp said he will do his best to keep the players focussed.

'I will be one of my biggest tasks in the next weeks to ensure that we continue to enjoy our work. So far my boys have been very talented in this area as well,' said Klopp.

A vast majority of the 18 Bundesliga coaches is convinced that Dortmund will not falter and move on to win its first league title in nine years.

'They are simply the best this year (season). They have the best players and the best team,' said Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel.

Munich and Leverkusen were also mentioned as possible champions, with Kaiserslautern coach Marco Kurz naming Friday's game in Leverkusen 'of the highest importance for the title race.'

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