Dusseldorf – Borussia Dortmund started pre-season training on
Wednesday with a depleted squad, with the aim of winning the
Bundesliga title they narrowly missed in the past campaign.
The 19 available players, including returning former Germany defender
Mats Hummels and youngster Mateu Morey, underwent performance
diagnostics behind closed doors.
A dozen internationals will join Lucien Favre's team at a later
stage, including the newly-signed Nico Schulz, Thorgan Hazard and
Julian Brandt.
Dortmund finished second in the past season, two points behind Bayern
Munich, after leading them by nine earlier in the season.
Forward Marco Reus, who is also yet to join the squad, told the Sport
Bild weekly that Dortmund are out for the title because "after the
past season and with our new signings any other aim makes no sense."
Dortmund will go to the United States July 15-21 with matches against
Seattle Sounders and Champions League winners Liverpool; and hold a
training camp in Switzerland July 27-August 2, with matches against
Udinese and St Gallen.
Their first official match is the German Super Cup August 3 against
Munich, followed by a German Cup first-round at third-tier Uerdingen
on August 9. They start the Bundesliga season at home against
Augsburg on August 17 or 18.
# Notebook
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The following information is not intended for publication
## Editorial contacts
- Reporting by: Heinz Buese in Dusseldorf
- Editing by: Derek Wilson
- Tel: +49-30-285231472;
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