Niko Kovac knows Boussia Dortmund is in for a trial versus Sergio Ramos and Monterrey
Borussia Dortmund will have to beat "sensation" Sergio Ramos and his winning mentality to advance to the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, said the German squad's coach Niko Kovac.
Former Real Madrid captain and four-time Champions League winner Ramos, 39, is Monterrey's defensive leader and Kovac highlighted the Spaniard's will to victory and Monterrey's aggression.
"He's a sensation you know," Kovac told a brief conference Monday ahead of the round of 16 duel versus the Mexican side.
"Every the stars that are playing so long.
.
.
it shows their mindset.
They are winners, they want to victory in every single preparation session, every single fixture, they want to be on the top level with every single pass in preparation," continued the Croatian.
"He's a leader, as a leader you want to be as long as possible on a high stage.
It's a little bit funny I'm now a coach and he's still a athlete - but I think he will become a coach.
"Ramos will do contest with Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, who excelled this campaign and finished as the joint-top goalscorer in the Champions League with 13 strikes.
The Guinea international is looking forward to taking on Ramos.
"It's going to be the first time, I'm looking forward to it, I want to play versus Sergio Ramos, he's a great defender," Guirassy told reporters.
"We will need to be tough, simply put.
"Kovac said his squad needed to be aware of the combative style Ramos and his squad-mates will employ in Atlanta.
"The Latin American teams play robust soccer, with tough physicality - soccer is a contact sport, we can't look it like basketball," said Kovac.
"I see it in a positive way, it's the way I like to play.
We have to adapt.
"One should never be provoked of course, but I told the stars they have to shield themselves if they need to, I think the referees will have open eyes for that as well.
"The coach has complained over the high-stakes heat at the tournament, with the German side forced to play in early kick-offs under a blazing sun, but Tuesday's fixture at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Arena will offer his side few relief.
"I think maybe with my statements I sometimes can be a bit annoying when I talk over certain factors that are repeated," said Kovac.
"I can confidently say we're looking forward to next day, the conditions will be better.
We don't have to play in 45 degrees Celsius.
"We've proved we can play high intensity soccer and this is what we want to do when it's a bit cooler and the conditions are never so hot.
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