Klopp concedes league crown to Bayern
Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp has all but conceded the Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich, telling dpa in an interview his target is now Champions League qualification.
Bayern have a 12-point lead over third-placed Dortmund, who have been champions for the past two season, and Klopp told dpa in La Manga, Spain that Jupp Heynckes' side can no longer be caught.
"The title can't be taken from Bayern now. You can't take it off them. Only they can give it away themselves, and I fear that's something they won't do," he told dpa at the team's training camp.
Dortmund, who last season won the league and cup double, are now focusing in the league on achieving direct qualification for next season's Champions League.
"Second place would be super, and third place more than fine. After that there are areas we wouldn't feel too good in," he said.
Dortmund's other immediate aims are to overcome Shakhtar Donetsk to reach to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and to beat Bayern in the quarter-finals of the German Cup.
vKlopp ruled out a major signing in the winter break, saying the club would continue its policy of seeking to promote young talent rather than try to match Bayern on spending.
"I read somewhere that we are planning a 40-million (euro) counter-attack, but that's something we won't be doing," he said.
"No question, we have to continue developing - but not like FC Bayern. That would be the wrong way."
