Gotze ruled out of decider

Borussia Dortmund last night confirmed Mario Gotze will miss the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at Wembley on Saturday.

Gotze ruled out of decider

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has lost his battle to be fit for what would have been his last game for the club ahead of his €37 million summer move to Bayern.

Gotze suffered a hamstring injury in the semi-final second-leg against Real Madrid and suffered a setback in his recovery when he had to cut short his first training session back with the team yesterday afternoon.

Gotze said in a statement on Dortmund’s official website: “The final was my big goal and in the past weeks I have battled hard for it. I am unbelievably sorry that I will not be able to help the team in this important match.”

Gotze’s absence is a huge blow to Jurgen Klopp’s side’s mission to upset the odds against the Bundesliga champions in London.

The Germany international was, along with Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, part of perhaps the most feared attacking triumvirate in European football currently and integral to Dortmund’s attacking style.

Kevin Grosskreutz was the man who replaced Gotze at the Bernabeu and either he or Nuri Sahin would appear to be the most likely candidates to stand in for him at Wembley.

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