Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund preview - Klopp: Decision has been a spark

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes his decision to leave the club in the summer has been the spark behind his side's recent revival as they head to Hoffenheim this weekend looking to boost their hopes of playing in Europe next season.

Since announcing just over a fortnight ago that he will be stepping down in the summer, Dortmund have picked up back-to-back Bundesliga wins and booked their place in the final of the DFB-Pokal with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

"Who knows if you look in the Duden [dictionary] at the word 'resignation', there will soon be the explanation 'the biggest motivation boost of all time' for it," Klopp said at a press conference.

"Things really have changed a bit since my resignation.

"I've heard that the team has said that I've become more laid back since the decision was taken; that I've had a more free character about me."

As a result, Dortmund now have two shots at a place in the Europa League next season, although they are keen on securing the first via their league position before facing Wolfsburg in the final of the DFB-Pokal next month.

Hosts Hoffenheim have only one shot at a place in Europe, on the other hand, and that is by closing the two-point gap on sixth-placed Augsburg in the final four games of the season.

"There are just four games to go and we can improve our position with a win, and that's what it's all about," said their coach Markus Gisdol.

"I can promise we will do all we can for a win. We were close to beating them in our previous two meetings this season, and now we want this to be third time lucky.

"We're at home and I'm hoping for euphoria from the fans. We need all the support we can get. We need it to be a cauldron."