Borussia Dortmund isn’t wasting any time. Days after narrowly losing out to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Dortmund signed three internationals to better challenge for the title next season.
Julian Brandt and Nico Schulz have joined from Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, respectively, while Belgium forward Thorgan Hazard has switched from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
“It’s time to be more ambitious. We’ll go into the season with the clear proviso to try again for the German championship,” Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said Tuesday, three days after Bayern won the title by two points.
“There is no second force in Germany other than Borussia Dortmund,” Watzke said. “With the exception of 2018, we fought for a title to the end for the past decade. That’s why we’re going to be more offensive now. Let’s see what we get for it.”
The transfers – and the lessons learned from a season in which it frittered away a nine-point lead – should Dortmund become a serious rival for Bayern and possibly claim a first league title since 2012.
“We are worlds apart from Bayern financially,” Watzke said. “We’re not so foolish as to say we have to be German champions now. But to stay on the case would be pretty good.” MDT/AP
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