Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Jurgen Klopp to stick with keeper Mitch Langerak until winter break

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has said Mitch Langerak will remain the club's starting goalkeeper ahead of Germany international Roman Weidenfeller until the Bundesliga's winter break.

Bild quoted Klopp, speaking before the weekend's match at Hertha Berlin, as saying: "I don't know who will be in goal at the weekend. I will think about it."

But the coach has since said he will stick with Australia international Langerak for the remaining games before the break, telling reporters: "I had a good talk with Roman and told him about my decision. In the new year, we start from the beginning again."

He stressed that his decision to promote him to the starting XI was not "forever."

Langerak replaced Weidenfeller in the 1-0 home win over Hoffenheim on Friday -- a move Klopp called "a gut decision" -- and the 26-year-old also played in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Anderlecht in midweek.

Weidenfeller, Germany's World Cup backup goalkeeper, was dropped after Dortmund fell to last place in the league after winning only once in 10 matches.

And Langerak said he still thinks of himself as second choice in the Dortmund goal.

He told Sport 1 that Weidenfeller remained No. 1 despite his recent struggle for form.

"Roman is the No.1. Should I play 50 games in a row, I'd say that I am the No. 1, but I want to work hard until then," he said.

"I don't put any pressure on myself. I don't know what's next. It's up to the coach. We both need to be ready -- that's all we can do. I hope that I play, and when I do I have to perform."

In January, Langerak is set to be part of his country's Asia Cup squad and could miss much of the preparation for the second half of the domestic season.

"It's a huge honour for me. Australia hosts the Asia Cup, and we have a good chance of winning it," he said.

Meanwhile, Suddeutsche Zeitung has reported that Weidenfeller wants to stay at Dortmund when his contract runs out in 2016.

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