Due to Tuesday’s friendly against FC Sion (1-0), the Borussia Dortmund players were only doing some light work on Wednesday before training was stepped up a notch again on Thursday.

There are two full days left in La Manga. Before they return home on Sunday morning, the Borussia Dortmund players will have another four training sessions as well as a friendly against Steaua Bucharest on Saturday (kick-off: 1630 CET, live on BVB total!). With the exception of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Adrian Ramos (both have been doing individual work) and the injured Erik Durm (groin strain) all players have been taking part in team training in La Manga.

This now is probably the most important time of the winter training where the players are getting into shape for a long and gruelling second half of the season. And the team, it seems, is ready and mentally prepared for the relegation battle ahead. “The training has become more intense, now we all have to improve our fitness,” said Mats Hummels on Thursday, adding: “Physical fitness is paramount. That was not the case in the first half of the season, and unfortunately this often leads to making the wrong decisions.” With the training camp coming to an end, the players are pushed to their physical limits – and (on one or two occasions) even beyond. After all, they will be expected to do so on a regular basis in the months ahead…

The training session on Thursday morning, which took place under cloudy conditions with a cold wind blowing, focussed on quick transitions and shooting drills. In other news, injured full-back Erik Durm will stay with the team in La Manga until the return trip to Dortmund on Sunday.