Dortmund declined from an average 2.59 goals per game in the first half season to 2.13 after the winter break. Instead of 119.1 kilometers, they ran 117.2, with fast runs down to 217 from 243.

CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said they have learned the lesson. Media reports said that Thorgan Hazard, brother of Chelsea star Eden Hazard, from Moenchengladbach, Kerem Demirbay (TSG Hoffenheim) and German international Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) are close to a final deal.

Watzke said they will take up the battle for the German title in the 2019-20 season. "We are far from talking about a messed-up season. Don't forget our team is still developing and our coach only joined us 12 months ago."

Besides, the club will stick to coach Favre as he has "delivered great work developing a newly formed squad" and it has reached its main goal to qualify for the 2019-20 Champions League campaign.

"This is what our coaches achieved, he is the right one," Watzke said.

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