🧵 Daniel Svensson interview.

Svensson on whether he is a 'machine' and his good endurance level: "I don’t know (laughs). I always try to work hard and give my best - in training, in matches, in everything I do. Maybe that’s why he said that. When we played together, we complemented each other perfectly. He was outstanding on the ball and dictated the game, while I helped him by covering a lot of ground and winning back possession. That allowed both of us to focus on our strengths."

Svensson: "That’s just part of my personality. I have a naturally good endurance level. I don’t specifically train for it - there’s no time for extra workouts with all the games and training sessions. Every now and then, I also need to rest (laughs)." Svensson on choosing Dortmund in spite of the sporting situation: "It’s true that other clubs were interested. But once Borussia Dortmund became a concrete option, I only wanted to come here. It’s a huge club - one of the biggest in Germany. When I was given the opportunity to play here, I wanted to take it."

Svensson: "A club like Borussia Dortmund always has the ability to bounce back. Almost every team goes through a season where they don’t perform as well as they’d like. But I know we’ll recover, and hopefully, the win against Union Berlin was the first step. As I said, BVB is such a big and strong club that it didn’t affect my decision at all."

🧵 Pre-match press conference Niko Kovač for the game against Union.

Kovač on Lille: "I know them well from the French league. They have very good players and a great coach. That will certainly be a tough challenge. We must not think these will be easy games." Kovač on squad availability: "Nothing has changed. Only Felix Nmecha is out."

🧵 Pre-match press conference for the game against Bayer Leverkusen with Nuri Sahin.

Sahin on the squad: "Waldemar Anton and Almugera Kabar are ill, Pascal Groß is suspended, and Niklas Süle is out." Sahin on Donyell Malen: "Donny will be part of the squad on Friday, and he’s a candidate for the starting lineup. I see him very focused; anything else wouldn’t make sense to me."

🧵 Pre-match press conference with Nuri Sahin for the game against Wolfsburg.

Sahin on the squad: "Julian Brandt and Waldemar Anton are back, Yan Couto has trained. With Julian Ryerson, we have to wait and see how he reacts to the workload." Sahin on the Hoffenheim game and the mentality debate: "There are winners and others who are developing in that direction. We’re here to ensure success and not be in eighth place. That’s what we’re trying to model here. And I particularly expect that from my young players."

🧵 A member asked why Mats Hummels' contract was not extended.

Lars Ricken: "Mats has etched his name into the history books of BVB. He is now turning 36. In the end, we had to ask ourselves if we should entrust that responsibility to other, younger players. We are very well-positioned in central defense. I believe we parted ways on good terms." Ricken: "Our clear mission is for players from the youth academy to play for us, at Borussia Dortmund. That’s why we brought in Thomas Broich and Mathias Schiele."

Ricken on Sahin: "We trust our team, and we trust our coach. Nuri is a top coach who knows how to navigate challenging situations and come out even stronger afterward. Nuri Sahin has given five players from our youth academy their professional debut this season. We are on the right path, and it will get even better."

🧵 Marco Reus in TOMorrow podcast. (It's massive)

Reus on life in LA: "Here, you get more of a sense that people are interested in the positive things. They see you, and you’re wearing a cool shirt, and they say, “Hey, cool shirt!” Of course, it’s a bit of that superficial American vibe, you could say, but they’re more likely to strike up a conversation with you. I love my country, I love Germany. I wouldn’t have lived there for so long otherwise. I’m really grateful that the country offers us so many opportunities. But you start to feel more and more like everything there is so negative. Like everyone is just living their own life, bottling it all up, getting sucked into a kind of whirlpool, and they forget the positivity of life itself. And I just find that sad. And I think that’s the biggest difference here."

Reus: "Gorgeous weather, clear blue skies. It’s definitely a great way to start the day. Beautiful sunshine, wonderful day. Absolutely, it’s definitely a stark contrast to Germany. You have to say that for sure. Mainly because of the weather. You wake up and start your day with a different energy. So, yeah, the move here was definitely the right decision." Reus on his move: "Yesterday, when we were at the game, I was talking with my wife, and she asked if I felt fully settled in and if I’d become American yet. But it still feels a little surreal, I have to admit. It was a big step for us. Moving away from Germany, where we lived our whole lives, to a different country, with a different culture and different people. But I have to say, I’ve been here a bit longer now, and my wife and kids only arrived about 7 or 8 days ago, but I already feel very comfortable, I have to say. And I wouldn’t want to miss it at all anymore."

🧵 Emre Can interview.

Can on the early deficit: "I don’t think anyone in the stadium knew what was happening at the beginning. Suddenly, we’re down 0-2, and then you start thinking about last week’s defeat in Stuttgart. It didn’t look good, but I felt that if we scored before halftime, we could turn the game around. And here, with our fans, anything is possible, and we showed that today. But it shouldn’t take going down 0-2 for us to start playing; that needs to be there from the beginning, and we need to learn that. But today, we showed character." Can on what went wrong in the first 35 minutes: "The rest defense! We were playing two-on-two at the back, and one of us holding midfielders or the right-back needs to tuck in. We need to have an overload there. It can’t happen that a player runs free on goal. We have to improve 100%. There are still some points we need to work on, but we’ll get better in the coming weeks."

🧵 Pre match press conference for the game against Eintracht Frankfurt with Nuri Sahin.

Sahin on Paris Brunner: "We can’t hand anything to anyone. I have shown him a perspective from the coaching side, and the club has made him a very good offer. I wish him all the best for his career. He has to compete with Guirassy, Beier, Haller, Moukoko, and the wingers. I don’t need to beat around the bush. It doesn’t work like, ‘Just so you extend your contract, you play in the first eleven.’ Borussia Dortmund is too big for that." Sahin on his first day: "This will be a very special day. I’m as excited as a little kid. Also, my daughter’s birthday is on Saturday."

🧵 Marco Reus in an interview with @SkySportDE

Reus on potential contact with Lionel Messi: "He hasn't sent a message. I doubt one will come. But it's nice to play against him in the league again. I had the pleasure two or three times, both with the club and the national team. I think every good player who comes to MLS benefits the league, simply for the attention, for the fans, to help them get to know the sport better. It's not the number one sport here, but I think the league is on a very good path to bringing football closer to the people and making it more popular. Every player who has played at a high level in Europe helps. We hope that more will join." Reus on what he will miss from the Bundesliga and Germany: "Especially the Dortmund stadium, of course. When you've had the feeling for so long of playing every other weekend, or sometimes even more often, in front of 80,000 fans, it's something you will always miss, because there is no stadium in the world that is as loud and where so many people come together. In the Bundesliga, you always felt, even when you played away, that so many fans supported you. You always had your fans everywhere. Whether it will be the same here, I don't know, but I'll find out. Also, football in general. You got to know football the way it is. Of course, it has also evolved in the Bundesliga. The stadiums are excellent, the fans – it's rare in the world to see clubs supported to that extent."

Ian Maatsen on his chances of staying at BVB next season: "I'm not really focusing on that right now. We have so many important games ahead of us, and my full concentration is on them. I don't know what will happen in the summer yet. There will surely be several options. What I can say is that I feel very comfortable in Dortmund and really enjoy being here at BVB. And I also feel that I am very welcome here."

Maatsen on reports which suggests he has conveyed a wish to Chelsea bosses that he doesn't want to return next season: "No, I haven't done that. At this stage of my career, my main focus is on playing a lot. That's the most important thing for me. I have a contract with Chelsea; it's a big club. As I said, I'm not thinking about my future right now. We'll see what happens." [@RNBVB] Maatsen on the the biggest differences between the Bundesliga and the Premier League: "The games in the Premier League are even faster than those in the Bundesliga. Additionally, the schedule is even more packed. While the Bundesliga is similar in this regard, there is a bit more time to rest after matches and to prepare for the upcoming game with a bit more time. Even though the competitions in Germany are also demanding, I would say the intensity in England is a bit higher."

🧵“At 27, you are at the best age to be a leader. Wouldn't you like to become BVB captain?”

Brandt: “I don't know if I'm the prototype for that. I come from the north, we are a little more reserved. I also define the role differently. It would be fatal if only the captain always took responsibility. He can't handle everything alone. I see the captain as a member of the team council, of which I am also a member. And I see it this way: everyone on this committee has to lead the way. I enjoy doing this too. And it's just as important that others speak their minds. I also have no problem with Marius Wolf complaining to me because I played crap.” [RN]
“How does Emre Can perform as captain from your perspective?”

Brandt: “I think Emre is a very good captain. He is someone who is driven by great ambition in every training session. He enjoys great respect in the team.”

Brandt on his increased sense of responsibility: “Yes. Maybe I too have grown up. At least that's what my old colleagues tell me. Emre Can, who has known me since I was 17, recently said: Why are you like this now? You used to talk completely differently!' For some it happens faster as the ripening process progresses, for me it took a little longer (laughs).”

Sebastien Haller on whether he has been to Borsigplatz often: "I sometimes drive across Borsigplatz in my car. But I really want to see this square full of people. There are still 90 minutes left, the last step must follow now!" Haller on whether Terzic has shown him the pictures of 2011-12 championships: "Of course, I've already seen a few video clips from title parties. Pictures like this give me an extra boost. We all really want to be part of such a special club moment."

Marco Reus on the fans: "I can't put it into words. I don't know how many supporters were here today. Maybe a bit more than 10k. Difficult to put into words really. We need the fans too, there's no question about that. Without them we are only worth half." Reus: "I don't have to tell you what's going to be going on next Saturday. Everyone will probably be on the South Stand waiting the day before. I am positive and I hope we get it done."

Lothar Matthäus via his column: "One has to assume that Borussia Dortmund will be German champions on Saturday evening." Matthäus: "In their own stadium, in front of 80,000 fans against FSV Mainz 05, who didn't put up too much resistance in the 4-1 draw against Stuttgart - Borussia Dortmund won't let that happen again."

Hans Joachim Watzke about the joy of a possible championship title for Marco Reus: "There's no question that he can set a milestone with that. But at the end of the day I'm happy for every player. Becoming German champion with Borussia Dortmund is a different category." [Sky] Watzke about his lucky jumper: "We played against Augsburg in the first half of the season, it was cold, I was wearing this sweater and then there was this spectacular 4: 3. Then I said: 'I'll leave it on until we have our first game lost in the Bundesliga.'"

Marius Wolf on Haller: "Of course it's incredible - I played with him in Frankfurt, and I fought for BVB to sign him. Obviously it was shit Situation for him at first, so I'm even happier that things are now going so well for him." Wolf: "We shouldn't forget that he scored when he came back during the winter break, and obviously people immediately had high expectations, but he needed time after such a long time out - everyone does."

Sebastian Kehl: "I don't want to put the brakes on euphoria. We took an important step today. In the end we deserved to win. We will absorb the euphoria and take it with us. We need another 90 minutes in our stadium with the power that we've shown in recent weeks." Kehl: "Now we can't let that take us anymore. I'm really happy for the team. They coped very, very well. We had a difficult first series. Now we have used the favor. Yesterday's result obviously plays into our hands. But it wasn't easy, Augsburg were very aggressive."

Sebastien Haller: "It was unbelievable. If someone had told me six months ago that I would be in this position, I would not have believed it. It's a great opportunity now, not only for me but also for the team. We have a good opportunity to achieve something big. I'm just proud." Haller on the game: "Everyone knew that we missed a few chances. Today we stayed patient and positive. It worked. I'm happy and proud of the team. We have to stay with us, keep working so hard. It's not magic, it's a lot of work, it's a lot of effort, running and positivity."

Edin Terzic about the possible title win: “There is still this one step that we want to take together. After that we allow all emotions, whether it’s pride or euphoria. We’re not done yet. The season will be over in seven days." Terzic: "Then the boys - they all earn good money - can buy whatever they want again: the next car, the next house, the next vacation - but you can't buy these moments Bring home to Dortmund."

Gregor Kobel on the win: "It was a very emotional game. It was a very important win. We are now in pole position. We have our job to do now. Today there was a lot of pressure on the boiler. But the work is not done yet. The belief is huge." Kobel: "We've done very well over 33 games, now we're missing a game. This is very important, we are aware of that. We do everything the same as usual. There's a lot of pressure, so we don't do crazy things."

Julian Brandt about Müller's challenge: "I'm staying out of the war of words. I really like Thomas Müller and know that you're frustrated after a game like yesterday. Basically, he's right, we have to win our games." Brandt: "We've won one now, but that doesn't mean that we're German champions. But I'm not in the mood for a verbal exchange of blows."