BVB had only just landed in Shanghai, when what will probably be the most spectacular transfer of the summer was confirmed: Mario Götze will once again wear BVB's colours. At his first press conference in China, Thomas Tuchel spoke about Götze's return, the conditions there, and the forthcoming reunion with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Thomas Tuchel on ...
... Mario Götze's transfer: "I am very happy that the transfer worked out. By making this decision and committing to BVB, Mario has chosen to take the hard way. Everyone is well aware of the circumstances in which he departed from Bayern. He had plenty of opportunities to simply circumvent this difficult situation – perhaps by going abroad, to begin anew. But he wanted to come to us, to come back to this fantastic atmosphere, this familial club, so that he can elevate himself once again to the highest level."

... Götze's development: "I believe that Mario is looking for a bit more warmth from his club. For him it is important to feel wanted at his football club, where he can then concentrate on sporting matters. This explains his return to Dortmund. We will of course be trying to give Mario that feeling, but we can only guide him back to the level for which he himself is striving. It is important not to make any bold predictions at this stage. We want to use every day available to us from the 1. August to help bring his talent back to the fore once more."

... the squad: "The new recruits' desire for everything that characterises BVB – the city, the stadium, to play for the club, to get involved – is clear to see. We have got hold of a lot more quality for our training group in the form of the five new players who have arrived at the club. The squad gives the impression of being very cohesive, and we have a great team spirit. We hope that will be evident in our forthcoming matches."

... the reunion with Henrikh Mkhitaryan: "We have already written to each other. I am really looking forward to seeing him again and to taking his arm. He is and remains a champion and played a huge role in our excellent season. Transfers between clubs should not be taken personally. It is about financial things and sporting challenges. I don't have any regrets, even if I would have loved to have seen him pull on a yellow kit tomorrow." 

... the question over the captain: "That is still undecided. Obviously, Marco Reus is a candidate. He is an important player for us, stood in for Mats last season and is a cornerstone of the team. However, this question is not important right now. It will only be decided much later. Personally, I feel these days that the question of who should be captain is not as important as it used to be, as hierarchies are becoming ever flatter."

Source: Ruhr Nachrichten
Author: Matthias Dersch