Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp insists that his team are "not naively optimistic" about their current league standing and will be prepared to face a tough test when they resume their domestic campaign on 31st January.
The Borussen, currently placed 17th, are two points adrift of the safe zone, as they prepare to play their 18th league match of the season against Bayer Leverkusen this weekend.
And while Klopp is hopeful of winning the match, he insists that the focus cannot be only on just one Bundesliga game, no matter how important.
The 47-year-old also took time to reveal that going into the mid-season break while being placed 17th was a tough pill to swallow for him.
"We are not naively optimistic and know that the pressure situations won't be any less", Klopp told German daily Die Welt.
relatedNewsStory
"But when we look at our situation, we know we can control it.
"To finish the first half of the season in 17th place felt like going on holiday on a bed of nails."
Klopp also mentioned hostility from some sections of the club's fans, adding that finding trust among supporters can sometimes prove to be difficult.
"Obviously we have been viewed harshly, even by our own fans.
"Trust is a delicate flower which can be quickly lost."
The German though ended on an optimistic note, insisting that the task in the present is win credit back, not only by winning the match against Leverkusen, but also by bridging the gap to ensure Bundesliga survival.
"We have to win back some credit, but we can't just focus on Leverkusen. Our position is clear, we are four points behind the area where we want to be at the end of the season."
Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.
