Gross says every game now a final for Dortmund
Pascal Gross insists Borussia Dortmund will approach every match like a final as it pushes for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund is eighth on the table with 42 points from 29 games, its worst position since 2014-2015 when it finished seventh.
With five games remaining, it trail fourth-placed RB Leipzig by six points and faces an uphill battle to claim a UEFA Champions League spot.
The Black and Yellow's confidence has grown, with Gross seeing its 3-1 win over Barcelona in the second leg of its UEFA Champions League quarter-final as a boost, despite it being knocked out of the competition with a 5-3 aggregate loss.
"In this stadium, with the fans, you can beat any team in the world. [Missing out] on that would hurt a lot," Gross said ahead of Monday's (AEST) clash with Borussia Moenchengladbach.
"That's why we need to do everything in our power in the final five games to get as many points as we possibly can. This season is crazy. We've almost lost too many games already to be able to reach that goal.
"But when you look at the table, you can see that anything is possible. The next five games are all finals for us."
Dortmund has won 17 of its past 18 Bundesliga home games against Gladbach, including each of the past 10.
It would leapfrog Gladbach on the table with a win, but needs to improve its defensive record after having conceded 45 goals this term.
Dortmund has also kept just two clean sheets across its past 18 league games, but Gross feels the team is more cohesive now.
"I feel like we're more solid now," he added. "If one person makes a mistake, someone else smoothes it out for him.
"That helps you to trust in what you're doing."
Dortmund manager Nico Kovac called for more passion and aggression in the next five games and said captain Emre Can and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who missed the Barcelona game with injury, are in contention to feature against Gladbach.
