Hans-Joachim Watzke appears as calm as the Turkish Airlines flight TK 3321 from Dortmund to Istanbul was on Tuesday afternoon. Despite seven points in the Bundesliga, despite the tough game against Galatasaray on Wednesday. “We are calm and level-headed,“ said the Borussia Dortmund chairman before the departure to the Champions League match in Turkey. “However, given our situation in the Bundesliga, we are no longer relaxed, but that would be too much to ask for.”

After their two and a half hour flight that arrived on time at Ataturk airport, the Borussen were greeted by sunny skies and temperatures of almost 20 degrees Celsius. “It’s an appealing task. We have the chance to take one step closer to the last 16 round while also getting a bit of a confidence boost for the Bundesliga,” said Watzke on Tuesday, adding, “I expect a lot of the team, particularly that they are determined and focused and throw themselves into every tackle. We have been conceding far too many goals and far too many easy goals recently. That’s what we’ll have to focus on.”

In the match-day programme for Saturday’s Bundesliga game against Hannover 96, the BVB boss looks at the current situation in a critical but constructive way, saying: “All players are challenged, especially those who have experienced only the good times at BVB in recent years with all the trophies, final appearances and top table finishes. Behind the team is a great, meticulous, dedicated and innovated coach, and behind the team are also unique fans. Despite lacking success at the moment, the entire club and its surroundings exude an incredible calm.”

In Istanbul, the team will be given a chance to extend their winning run in European club football's premier competition and give their confidence a real boost. The preparations for the game already started on the plane, with the players watching videos of Galatasaray on their tablets. The final training session at Turk Telekom Arena was scheduled for Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, things get serious…