Dortmund's Guerreiro targets Champions League scalp of Monaco
Raphael Guerreiro has set his Borussia Dortmund team-mates the target of beating Monaco in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg to give themselves the best chance of reaching the last four.
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Guerreiro, who joined BVB from French side Lorient last summer, remains a keen student of the game in the country of his birth.
The Portugal international and UEFA Euro 2016 winner, who was born in the Paris suburbs, told bundesliga.com that although Monaco pose a threat to Dortmund's ambitions, the Ligue 1 leaders will not only have to cope with Thomas Tuchel's highly-talented sidebut also handle the "electrifying" atmosphere generated inside the Signal Iduna Park.
Click here for live build-up to Dortmund vs Monaco.
bundesliga.com: Raphael Guerreiro, talk us through your magnificent goal at the Allianz Arena last Saturday.
Raphael Guerreiro: At first it looked like the ball wouldn't come to me as it seemed the Bayern defence would be able to clear the cross from the right. I wanted to drop back into position, then I saw that the ball hadn't been cleared far. I didn't think about it, I just hit it. Sometimes you just have to take a risk. It worked out well. I was so happy, though the result dampened that unfortunately.
bundesliga.com: You're talking about the final result, 4-1 to Bayern. Should we be concerned for Dortmund given the upcoming Champions League quarter-final first leg with Monaco?
Click here for five sub-plots ahead of Tuesday's match against Monaco.
Guerreiro: We're not at all worried, because we know that it's a completely different game against an opponent who has a different style of play. Bayern were really strong on Saturday, you just have to acknowledge that. They have already proved why they will be German champions again. They were better than us.
Watch: Guerreiro's first Borussia Dortmund goal, at Wolfsburg on Matchday 4:
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bundesliga.com: What kind of game can we expect from the French league leaders?
Guerreiro: There's no doubt it will be an open game with a lot of forward momentum. I'm convinced we'll create goalscoring chances and it will be vital that we take them.
bundesliga.com: How can you explain the two faces of BVB this season: unbeatable at home and vulnerable away?
Guerreiro: It's true that we almost always win at home and we're not really consistent away from home. It's a shame, because our away form has ruined our good season a bit.
bundesliga.com: What is the team's objective against Monaco?
Guerreiro: Of course we want to go through to the semi-finals. We hope some of our injured players will be available. The atmosphere with our fans behind us will be amazing. They're behind us in every game, but in the Champions League it's even louder and more electrifying. We want to play well and put ourselves in a good position for the second leg, which means winning the first game and preferably with a high score. I believe we can do it.
bundesliga.com: Are Monaco actually not the easy draw some thought it to be?
Guerreiro: I don't see it like that, because I follow the French league regularly and Monaco aren't top of the table by accident. They're a really competitive team, which is very strong going forward. It will be anything but straightforward.
bundesliga.com: Both teams have a similar style: strong up front and vulnerable at the back. Does that mean it's guaranteed to be a great show?
Guerreiro: It will of course be an attractive game with two teams who get forward very quickly and try to score as many goals as possible. It'll be important for us to make the right decisions and be ice-cold in front of our opponent's goal.
"Guerreiro: We have an unbelievable atmosphere in the stadium, and it will definitely help us."
bundesliga.com: What conclusions can you draw after nine months in the Bundesliga?
Guerreiro: I'm more than happy. I did totally the right thing in deciding to join Borussia Dortmund. I'm playing in a league where everyone goes forward, stadiums are full everywhere, everything is done with the highest standard of professionalism and passion. Personally, I feel the trust of the coach and he knows that I can be used at left-back or in midfield. I can develop best here.