Marcel Schmelzer believes that defensive solidity is key to the team's sporting success in the second half of the season. "Our primary objective is to stop falling behind as often – and especially not thanks to the opposition's first chance of the match. If you achieve that, you only need to score the one goal, and not two", said the captain at the team's training camp in Marbella.

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Borussia Dortmund went 0-1 down in the last seven competitive fixtures of the 2016 calendar year, though showed great character to come back, so that they ultimately lost only one of them. However, they were only able to convert two of those encounters into victories. The score draws against Cologne (1-1), Hoffenheim (2-2) and Augsburg (1-1) have cost BVB a substantially better position in the table.

"The other teams have tightened up at the back considerably, meaning it is ever harder to score against them", suggested Schmelzer, who sees in Marbella the ideal conditions in which the team can work on and overcome this problem: "We have got a great training ground, a nice hotel. The sun is a nice bonus. We are looking forward to the coming days here, we are with each other 24 hours a day, and the injured players are here too. We have plenty of opportunities to talk with one another."

That Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is currently participating in the African Cup of Nations with his homeland, Gabon, (and who just missed out on top spot in the African Player of the Year Awards to Riyad Mahrez, who plays for surprise English Premier League wining side Leicester) will miss at least the first league match of 2017 away at Bremen, is not thought to be too serious a problem by Schmelzer: "Auba is simply irreplaceable. But we have got great quality on the bench with Adrian." Schmelzer on Adrian Ramos: "He is a great guy and a very good football player. We trust him completely."

Moustache the result of a lost "Schmallenge"

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Marcel Schmelzer also offered an explanation as to why he has grown a moustache: "Unfortunately, I was unable to win a Schmallenge against Nuri and Gonzo. So I have to keep the moustache on for the next four days. It is not so bad at the training camp...".
Boris Rupert