Dortmund's Reus hopes to sign off in style

The announcement that striker Marco Reus is to leave the club this summer has triggered an emotional reaction from Borussia Dortmund fans ahead of their 2023-24 UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

Marco Reus of Dortmund stops the ball during a German Cup first round match against TSV 1860 Munich in Munich, Germany, July 29, 2022. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)

Many supporters demanded that the team win the tournament as a farewell present for the man who has played for over 12 years in Dortmund's shirt.

A 1-0 victory in the first leg on home soil gives Dortmund a slight advantage.

"He is a legend and has always been around for the club in good and bad times. He has become a crowd pleaser and has conquered the fans' hearts. I cannot think of anyone else more deserving of the trophy," coach Edin Terzic said.

Reus has won two trophies in his career - the 2017 and 2021 German Cup - but both were far from happy events. In 2017 he was substituted with a serious knee injury which sidelined him for months, while in 2021, the game took place in an empty stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The forward also missed many of the German national team's tournament outings with injury, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup triumph.

Reus announced plans to continue playing for another one or two years, with Manchester United and Major League Soccer thought to be possible destinations, but the forward spoke about the Champions League final as "a last big thing."

For now, Dortmund are determined to survive this week's game in Paris. "That's the first step we need to do, and we know it's a hard nut to crack," Reus said. "We might dream about the final, but there is one more decisive game."

With an overwhelming 5-1 victory over Augsburg in the Bundesliga last weekend, Dortmund are in good form, with Reus scoring a goal and delivering two assists.