After Dortmund defeated Mainz 2-0, Dortmund general manager Lars Ricken was interviewed, talking about the team's season start, offensive efficiency, defensive stability and two key players in the team.
About the start of the season
"This is not a flash in the pan. The team's performance is really moving towards a more stable and sustainable direction. We have won five wins and two draws in all competitions so far, and the last time we lost in the Bundesliga was more than six months ago.
We currently average more than three goals and have won four consecutive games in the league. Our goal after the Club World Cup is to occupy a favorable position in the standings from the beginning to avoid repeating the mistakes that have been chasing in the past few years. So far, we have done quite well. But today's game also reminds us: no one can relax at all. Just ten seconds before our goal, Mainz has a full chance to take the lead, so the direction of the game may be completely different. "
About the offensive efficiency against Mainz
" In such a intensive schedule, the calmness of the forward players is crucial. The process of creating goals shows speed, accuracy and pure football fun. It is always a good thing to see the players constantly learning and improving. In the last seven minutes of the game, we spent almost all our time in the opponent's corner flag area. This reminded me of the game against Juventus, when we actually should have done that."
About Schlottbeck and the stability of the defense line
" Of course, at Schlottbeck When Ke was absent, we also scored zero. But there is no doubt that his calm and sophisticated style of play and excellent organizational skills have stabilized the team's defense. After six months of leaving the field, he could immediately play the whole game in two consecutive games, and it felt like he had never left. This is really amazing."
Regarding Brandt's performance with two assists
"I said before the game that substitutes will be the key to deciding the game. Of course, I didn't expect it to be fulfilled so soon, because Gilasi was unfortunately absent. The ability shown by Brandt is untold: the kind of running into the space with intuition at the right time and sending the right speed The instinct of passing. Faced with the crisis, Brandt made an extraordinary response. He not only influenced the game decisively, but even dominated the game. "
Regarding the competition at the top of the standings
"I still remember the summer a year ago, when the outside world regarded us as Bayern's number one challenger, and we never denied it. But we once slipped to eleventh place during the season, and we did not qualify for the Champions League until the end. Therefore, our clear goal this season is to stay at the forefront from beginning to end. As for some players who expressed lofty ambitions, I personally think there is no problem at all. But we also clearly remember that it is not easy for us to go all the way."