“I’m full of anticipation,” said Jürgen Klopp on Tuesday, looking well-recovered following a 17-day Christmas break, as the team resumed training. On their first day back the players had to complete a lactate threshold test.

“My batteries are charged up again,“ said the BVB coach, adding: “I wasn’t happy about our situation, but about the fact that we were able to leave it behind during the break.” Coach and team are ready to attack again and started the new (football) year full of optimism and enthusiasm.

Among the squad was new signing Kevin Kampl about whom Klopp said, “He’s not expected to perform miracles, but we don’t mind him leading the way. We are happy to have him here. We are both sure that we will stay up, now we will have to convince others of it…”

The Dortmund coach has announced to put the team through a tough training schedule ahead of the Bundesliga restart on 31 January: “We have a huge schedule in front of us and we want to start the second half of the season in a good, positive mood.”