Niko Kovac urges Borussia Dortmund players to give 100 percent against Atalanta

Dortmund secured a 2-0 victory at home last week thanks to first-half goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier. While historical data favors teams with a two-goal first-leg lead - only 15 of 126 sides in such scenarios have been eliminated in Europe - Kovac is keen to avoid complacency. Dortmund have also progressed from seven of nine knockout ties when winning the first leg.

"We're definitely not coming here to manage the game and the result. That won't get us anywhere," Kovac told reporters on Tuesday. "We want to try to impose our own game. If we score a goal, we'll gain a lot more confidence. The first leg was a good result, but nothing more. We have to push ourselves to the limit - and the limit is always 100 percent."

Personnel-wise, Kovac will welcome back Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck after both completed full training sessions. "It helps when the two captains are on board. They'll be ready to play tomorrow, though we still have to think about how we'll use them," Kovac said. Niklas Sule and Filippo Mane remain sidelined.

The match comes amid tensions between the clubs. Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino drew attention after flipping off Kovac following the first leg - a gesture Kovac downplayed as "child's play." Off the pitch, Dortmund fans have announced a full boycott of the match due to strict policing measures, while club administrators from both sides remain at odds over the 2024 signing of Samuele Inacio. Traditional pre-match meetings and dinners between executives have been canceled.

Atalanta, however, are refusing to give up hope. "It's certainly a difficult mission, but we must give it our best," Palladino told Sky Sport Italia. "We have to play with quality, with our style of football, and have faith in ourselves. It will be tough, but dreams can come true, so we've got to give it our best."

Dortmund's squad also includes Jobe Bellingham, who joined Kovac at a press conference for the first time. The 20-year-old Englishman, signed last June, has quickly settled into the team and praised Kovac for helping him improve physically and mentally.

With Atalanta on a four-win-and-a-draw streak in Serie A, the Bundesliga side expect a challenging atmosphere at the Gewiss Stadium. "There will be singing for 90 minutes, and they'll get all the support they need," Kovac acknowledged. But he insists his players will remain focused on executing their own plan rather than sitting back to protect the lead.

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