Peter Bosz has admitted Borussia Dortmund are under pressure against Bayern Munich, but added that three points in the Bundesliga Klassiker could end a difficult three weeks for the club on a high.
Coming out of the last international break, Borussia Dortmund had a five-point lead on Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table. But three match days later, the Bavarians have surpassed them and go into the game three points ahead and with the confidence of six games unbeaten in all competitions.
Dortmund, on the other hand, have won just one of their six matches since the league resumed. They lost two league games and drew one as well as twice being held by Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League.
All the while, head coach Peter Bosz has come under fire for sticking to his attacking 4-3-3 formation from parts of the media. But speaking to reporters at his prematch news conference on Friday, he said this criticism was not new to him, and rather has been addressed during various points in his managerial career.
"I've been through all of this back home," Bosz, whose recent stops in the Netherlands include Vitesse and Ajax. "There were many questions [about the system] back then when there were no results and we conceded many goals."
Whereas the problems in the Netherlands usually occurred earlier in the season, Dortmund's drop in form began only after several match days had already been played.
Bosz hinted that he might adjust his system against Bayern Munich, in a match where the club will feel the burden of getting a result to not ruin their best ever start of the season.
"We were a bit fortunate in the first couple of weeks, we were not at 100 percent," he added. "We don't have that luck right now."
"The results have changed and the opponents see how we play. We now need to do a few things differently.
"There's always pressure at Dortmund. And when you don't win consecutive matches, there will be even more pressure. And there will be even more when you play Bayern," Bosz said. "The pressure is there. We need the pressure, too. But you must play better under pressure, and not cramp up.
"You wouldn't believe it if you followed us in the past weeks, but if we win this, we are back at the top of the table."
Other than long-term absentees Marco Reus, Lukasz Piszczek, Erik Durm and the suspended Dan-Axel Zagadou, Bosz will be able to field the players he believes can beat Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Despite the recent criticism, Bosz has already tested a three-at-the-back during the matches against Augsburg, Real and Leipzig, and could adjust his plans to regain momentum.
"Maybe Bayern come at exactly the right time," Bosz said. "We can turn around the feeling with a win."