As Adi Preissler said, it's not just what you do on the pitch - it's how competitively you do it. After three commanding victories in friendly-matches which were characterised by brilliant attacking prowess, the serious business begins with the opening game of the year tomorrow on Saturday at 18.30 with an away-game at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

 

"What we must do is keep ourselves at our current level" said the coach of the team, currently second in the table, and promised: "We will do everything in our power to do that tomorrow. The signs I'm getting from the team give me cause for optimism."

The first-team squad have been preparing themselves for the second half of the season since 4. January. "The whistle for the second half is about to be blown ", said Tuchel, who is satisfied with how things stand currently: "We have achieved almost everything with regard to our training-load and many of the targets we set ourselves ." He spoke after 18 days worth of preparation of a "short recovery-period" and a "new impetus that we have created for ourselves. We feel ready." He can feel a "sense of ease and a good mood“ within the team, coupled with concentration: "We will have to provide the first evidence of all that tomorrow."

In front of a packed stadium, "there will be a Gladbach team waiting for us that wants to build on the many successes they have had under their new trainer. Not for nothing did they win at home to Bayern Munich“, according to Tuchel: "We will be set tests for which we need to be ready – and for which we will be ready."

The start needs to be successful. Tuchel knows that "anything less than a victory is unacceptable."
Boris Rupert

BVB total!-Video: Watch the full press conference with Thomas Tuchel