BERLIN: Jurgen Klopp is convinced Borussia Dortmund will avoid relegation despite beginning the second half of the Bundesliga season at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday second from bottom in the table.
"We are not naively optimistic and know that the pressure situations won't be any less," Dortmund's head coach Klopp told German daily Die Welt.
"But when we look at our situation, we know we can control it."
Despite reaching the Champions League's last 16 as group winners, Dortmund are second from bottom, following the Bundesliga's winter break, after a disastrous ten defeats in 17 league matches due to injuries and a lack of form.
"To finish the first half of the season in 17th place felt like going on holiday on a bed of nails," quipped Klopp.
The 47-year-old has been given a job guarantee by Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke with his contract set to expire in June 2018 but Klopp is all too aware they must start picking up points.
Dortmund are just four points from mid-table and are 12 away from a Champions League place for next season.
"Obviously, we have been viewed harshly, also by our own fans, trust is a delicate flower, which can be quickly lost," admitted Klopp.
"We have to win back some credit, but we can't just focus on Leverkusen.
"Our position is clear, we are four points behind the area where we want to be at the end of the season."
Having seen star players Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandowski quit for Bayern Munich over the last two seasons, Klopp says he is hopeful Germany winger Marco Reus will stay with Dortmund.
The 25-year-old has a release clause in his contract means he could leave at the end of the season for 25 million euros (US$23.89m).
"The boys are 100 percent here and I have a positive feeling that the player we are talking about (Reus) will stay a bit longer," said Klopp.
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