"Cheers!" and "all fine at home!" - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang greets the journalists in the press room of the "Grand Resort" in Bad Ragaz with a beaming smile. And 19 year old Ousmane Dembélé is also present. Aubameyang (27) is both his teammate and his friend.

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Dembélé, who is eight years younger than Aubameyang, confirms: „Auba is very important for me. He is my room  mate, he also translates on the pitch when the Head Coach gives instructions." The experienced Aubameyang who had his second child just recently, likes to be in this role and has the following to say about Dembélé: „he is a very nice young man. I help where I can and try to support him, so that he can integrate as fast as possible. You can tell that he wants to learn."

The pre-season friendlies and the impressions during training have clearly shown what kind of talent is simmering in the 19 year old, who transferred from Stade Rennes to BVB. Dembélé said: "I have been here for four weeks now and I can definitely say that I have been welcomed with open arms. My ambition is to work as hard as possible in pre-season so that I can get as many minutes on the pitch as possible during the season. I like to dribble with the ball. Of course I need to improve in many areas. There is a big difference in the playing style of Stade Rennes and Borussia Dortmund. The game is different and faster. The Head Coach speaks to me so that I can improve tactically."

„It is my ambition to  improve even more“

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also wants to improve, even though last season was the best season of his career: the 27 year old hit the net on average every 98 minutes, he only needed five shots on goal to score: "even if it may sound a bit arrogant: it is my goal to improve even more on the pitch."

He reassured everyone via the interpreter Massimo Mariotti: "I will definitely stay with BVB and I don't want to answer questions on this topic again. I am part of a great group here and at the age of 27 I am at the best age to take on even more responsibility. This step forward will do me good." Looking towards the new season, Aubameyang said: "the Bundesliga is a big league with strong teams. We hope that we can get under Bayern's skin and we want to do as well as possible." Boris Rupert

 

BVB total!-Video: press conference with Auba and Dembélé