Marcel Schmelzer: "A fantastic team effort"

When Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid first crossed swords in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage, Marcel Schmelzer scored the winning goal in his team's 2-1 win over the Spaniards. While the left-back did not contribute any goal to Dortmund's impressive 4-1 rout of José Mourinho's side last night, he was just as effective as six months ago, working together with box-to-box player Marco Reus to keep German national team colleague Mesut Özil, deployed on Real's right wing, on a tight leash.

In this interview with DFB.de, 25-year-old Schmelzer talks about Dortmund's sensational triumph against "los madrileños", moral support for Mats Hummels, the spanner-in-the-works risk posed by Mario Götze's transfer to Bayern Munich, and the chances of getting through to the UCL final in London on 25 May 2013.

Question: Marcel, can you find the words for how you feel now?

Marcel Schmelzer: We're absolutely ecstatic to have come away with that kind of result against a world-class team. But we also know that this was just part one of a two-leg affair.

Question: Real Madrid managed to equalise just before the break, but even that didn't derail you – is that a reflection of a new-found coolness in this Dortmund side?

Schmelzer: Yes! I think we've come on in leaps and bounds lately. In fact, this match meant making not just one but two steps forward. Even when we were 2-1 and 3-1 ahead, we still had the physical fitness, the guts, and the nerve to run at them. Obviously, there were some periods during the game where we had to take a breather and allow Madrid more possession, but that's par for the course. I think that we've put in a fantastic team effort.

Question: Mats Hummels's mistimed back-pass enabled Madrid to equalise, but he's said that the team built him up again during the half-time break...

Schmelzer: More or less everybody knows how you feel when you make a mistake that results in the opposition scoring – you want to dig yourself a hole and jump in it! But the good thing is we had another 45 minutes to put things right. No matter who it is that screws up – we all try to help and cheer him up again.

Question: Just seconds before the 3-1 goal, you had a go with your left foot just inside the area; didn't this bring back memories of your goal in the group match six months ago?

Schmelzer: Yes, I must admit that's exactly what went through my head when the ball fell to me. And maybe that split-second distraction was why I didn't manage to hit it really well...

Question: Luckily, seconds later Robert Lewandowski took care of that. Your comment on his performance?

Schmelzer: Absolutely awesome! For a striker to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final is incredible. His goals – and how he scores them – are extremely important for us. Robert has a tremendous work rate, and basically he's rewarded himself for his efforts. But you've got to give credit to the whole team, and hats off of course to Marco Reus for a superb performance in both offence and defence.

Question: The Dortmund supporters did their bit, didn't they?

Schmelzer: Oh yes! I don't think it's ever been that loud in the stadium, so a big THANK YOU to every single fan. News of Mario Götze leaving us had made for a tense atmosphere prior to the game, so it was key for both the fans and the team to just not let it get to us. I'm very happy things worked out fine in the end. I think our supporters felt how much we need them, and what we're able of achieving when they rally behind us.

Question: Coach Jürgen Klopp had issued an urgent appeal to fans. How did he deal with the issue in the dressing room?

Schmelzer: We did talk about it, but he made it clear we simply had to try to ignore it and just carry on regardless. He said don't let someone who – for whatever reason – wouldn't keep a secret ruin the precious occasion that is playing in a Champions League semi-final.

Question: You've been with Borussia Dortmund for five years now. Looking at the strides the team have made over the last few years, do you sometimes have to pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming?

Schmelzer: It's correct to say that the core players have been together for some four or even five years now, making Borussia Dortmund an internationally acclaimed team. That's something that makes us happy, but we want to move on further ahead. There have been some departures of players along the way that we thought would hurt us really bad, but eventually we managed to rebuild and field a competitive team. Obviously, it'll be hard to replace Mario Götze and we'll all have to come to terms with that. But I'm sure we'll come out an even stronger side next year.

Question: With a 4-1 lead from the first-leg match, the second-leg game should be plain sailing ...

Schmelzer: That's the kind of statement people make who haven't had the privilege of playing in the Santiago Bernabéu. We can brace ourselves for just the same kind of atmosphere, just the other way round! And let's not forget how Real played some textbook pressing during the second half of the group stage return match – they really had us against the ropes! But we're well-prepared now and will do everything to find the right solutions on the pitch.

Question: Bayern vs. Barcelona: 4-0, Dortmund vs. Madrid: 4-1. A changing of the guard in international football?

Schmelzer: That's what it looks like, but remember we've only seen the first of two semi-final games, with both German teams having to play abroad for another 90 minutes. Right now we're just proud to have shown everybody that we can hold our own on the world stage.