Borussia Dortmund have never started a season as well as they have now. Although they did win their first three UEFA Champions League matches in the 1996/97 and 2014/15 campaigns, they did not fare quite so well domestically back then. The Black & Yellows are currently unbeaten in all competitions, having picked up 10 victories and two draws – and even drew praise from Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone after beating his side 4-0. "I loved their performance. They were efficient, dynamic and played the ball forward rather than simply keeping possession among themselves," he said.

Michael Zorc has listened to those words and read the headlines that adorn the pages of today's newspapers. "We'll continue doing exactly what we have been doing and thinking from game to game. That's made us strong," declared Borussia Dortmund's sporting director, who then went into more detail on the previous evening's Champions League masterclass. The 4-0 win is "an outstanding result" but "we're also aware that we could've conceded one or two goals at the time when we were 1-0 ahead," he explained. So there's "no reason to be taken in by the jubilation that is bombarding us from outside and we'll instead react to it by continuing to work hard".

Which is precisely what Lucien Favre and his team will do. Today they received more applause from fans at a very well-attended open training session, which was followed by autograph signing. Following that recovery session, they only have one day ahead to prepare for their home game against Hertha BSC on Saturday (15:30 CET). "The 4-0 gives us even more belief," said the Swiss tactician as he reflected on the previous evening. "It's a very good result that we'll take with us." His team will now expect "a very different match. Hertha have been a very good side this season."

Currently sixth in the table, they have caused a sensation this term by beating Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Schalke 04. There has only been one defeat − a 3-1 loss in Bremen. "It's very difficult to play against Hertha," said Favre, with Zorc adding: "Hertha have been waiting a week to play. We need to go again after only three days and we know how tough that is." The sporting director is expecting a "hard-fought game given Hertha's solid defence. We'll need a lot of patience." The fact "we're playing at home" could prove to be a small advantage.

Lucien Favre has yet to provide a detailed update on the personnel situation. "48 hours for recovery is very short," explained the coach, who hopes Alcácer will be fit and can count on Delaney ("It was nothing serious"). However, he cannot yet say to what extent he will need to rotate. "It's still too early to say how many players we're going to change."

He will be hoping the unbeaten streak does not end in the 13th match of his tenure. "We've seldom seen such a good start in all competitions," said an astonished Michael Zorc, who has been involved with the first team since 1981. In fact, there has never been a better one.
Boris Rupert