Gonzalo Castro is about to enter his second season with Borussia Dortmund, having consistently been one of BVB's key players in the club's previous six friendlies. And in this summer of change, the midfielder believes the signings of Mario Götze and André Schürrle send a message to the rest of the league "that we're a force to be reckoned with".

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Gonzalo Castro on his good pre-season form:
"I feel that I prepared well in the summer break. The previous friendlies went well, the positions I had suited me and the team has performed well. Those are the factors behind it."

...on a potential leadership role in the team:
"Three top players with a lot of experience have left and a lot of youngsters have arrived. That makes it all the more important that those who've been here longer and are older help the youngsters out and step up. In general, it's important we stick together and support each other. The season won't be a cakewalk."

...on his impressions of the new signings:
"The squad has great strength in depth now. Last year things got tight when someone got injured. The youngsters have a lot of quality, especially in one-on-ones. Especially in tight games when teams have all ten players camped around their penalty area, it can be important to have players who can open up the gaps."

...on André Schürrle and Mario Götze:
"They are both creative and unpredictable when they go forward. The signings show that we're a force to be reckoned with and that we are still capable of achieving our objectives in this year of upheaval."

...on the current state of pre-season preparations:
"This pre-season has been a bit tougher. At the start there was just a small group. Then new players were turning up every Monday. That's why it's important that we have lots of friendlies in which we can get to know each other better and can be tested by our opponents."

Spanish-speaker Castro's take on the integration of Mikel Merino, Marc Bartra and others:
"For young players who go overseas for the first time and are apart from their families, it's tough. It's a big step for them to take. But they're all settling in well. They are trying to learn quickly and to talk lots."

Recorded by Boris Rupert