At BVB, the national players have started their preparation. The plans? Big. Julian Brandt: “You don’t want to leave a lot of things like that.”

Oh yes, May, which ended with BVB drama, is now a few days ago again. Borussia Dortmund is looking ahead, already sweating in preparation, the first test match against Westfalia Rhynern was won 7:0, – and, as is the nature of this club, has big plans, big dreams. Now the national team players have also started training, including Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck.

He is delighted, reports Brandt, 27. “I saw one or two boys on holiday. We had a lot of time to chat a bit. The impression was that we’re enjoying the holiday but are actually full of beans that it’s going to start again pretty quickly.”

Dortmund’s first competitive match is against Schott Mainz in the DFB-Pokal on 12 August, while the Bundesliga kicks off with a home game against 1. FC Köln on 19 August.

“It’s still preparation, and that’s a good thing. But the hands are getting shaky that it’s starting again, because you don’t want to leave a lot of things like that,” says Julian Brandt, referring of course to the drama against Mainz, the missed championship. So now: a new start. “I was happy to be back here. I’m really looking forward to the season,” explains Nico Schlotterbeck, 23.

BVB leading players: Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck

Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck are among those expected to lead the way in the coming season. BVB longs for the championship, the coming May next year should end exhilarating.