With seven goals in three games, Borussia Dortmund has proved its attacking strength and efficiency in the Bundesliga and will want to show that on Saturday, in the away game at TSG Hoffenheim. Despite the fact that there was a lot to be said about moving forward after the successful result in Bruges, sports director Michael Zorc and head coach Lucien Favre said today, "We will give the team the necessary time."

"When we spoke of a new start at the start of the season, it was clear to us that we'd need a bit of time and patience," said Zorc on Thursday. He continued to say, "I'm happy that we've had very good results and that we've been playing well. We have good stability at the back but we can, and must, still improve on our attacking game. I'm not stopping anybody from being more dangerous in front of goal or from asserting themselves in one-on-ones." 

Favre continues to see his task as being, "Finding the right system with the best mix and understanding which players have good chemistry with each other," which is on a similar level to Zorc who said, "If you have a) a new coach and b) new players in central positions, then it's completely normal to require a bit of time before you get the right processes and balance in your game. We are happy with the development so far."

On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund's defence will have a lot demanded of them on their visit to last year's third runners-up TSG Hoffenheim. "They are ever so dangerous down the wings and through the middle. They have a lot of power up front," said Favre about the upcoming opponents. Zorc added, "Hoffenheim likes to make the game their own and to keep possession. They set up wide in midfield and let their wingers push up to play offensively. Defensively, we will have to manage that. Conversely, that will give us opportunities to assert ourselves better than we have been doing recently."

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This is where Marco Reus could play a key role. "It's good that he can play pretty much anywhere on the pitch. He can always create chances and he makes intelligent runs," stated Favre. In response to a criticism about his captain, he said, "He almost scored two goals against Leipzig and he got one goal and an assist against Fürth. And in the two chances that we had in Hanover, Marco was there." It is worth mentioning that Reus also hit the post there. 

On the journey to Hoffenheim, the head coach will once again have to go without Raphael Guerreiro and Ömer Toprak. Paco Alcácer still has a question mark over his head. In the third of seven games within a three-week period, it is likely that there will once again be some changes made to the starting 11. "Rotation is important," said Favre, "We've already done a bit of it in the Champions League." Four changes were made to the starting 11 between Frankfurt and Brugge.

Boris Rupert