After three cloudy days with wind and a few drops of rain, the sun finally broke through in La Manga. So everything was fine then on the fourth day of BVB’s training camp in Spain? Well, not everything…

Because of a bronchitis, Ilkay Gündogan stayed in the team hotel. Henrikh Mkhitaryan also sat out training after taking a knock to his Achilles tendon in Saturday’s match against Standard Liege, while Kevin Grosskreutz, who was forced off during the 2-0 win after taking a kick on the ankle, was back in full training on Sunday.

On Sunday it was Sebastian Kehl’s turn to face the media at the mid-day press conference. Asked about his future at BVB, the Dortmund skipper said: “We will get together in the near future to share our ideas. The BVB officials have repeatedly emphasised in the last couple of days that they have a great deal of respect for me. I was pleased to hear that.” He added: “I will listen to my body. It is clear that I feel well in Dortmund. But I don’t know yet what will happen next. I haven’t really properly thought about it and that’s why I don’t want to share my thoughts. First I want to talk to BVB, and then we will find a solution.”

On another topic, Kehl was annoyed with the amount of goals BVB conceded in the first half of the season and the defeats in the top games. “We are working intensively on our counter pressing, and also, even if it is tough to practice, on our ruthlessness in front of goal. Sascha (media director Sascha Fligge, editor’s note) just told me that we are, in regard to clear-cut chances created, by far the number one team in the league. This alone is a positive thing and fills me with optimism that we will have a good second half of the season.”

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A play of light: Hans-Joachim Watzke and Michael Zorc [pictures: Simoes]

Watzke and Zorc to accompany Klopp to Ballon d‘Or
Due to a slight thigh problem, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not take part in the second training on Sunday afternoon. The focus of this session was on passing and positioning. Jürgen Klopp repeatedly pulled out the defenders and the holding midfielders from the drills, while he and assistant coach Peter Krawietz made themselves available for passes in midfield. Monday will not be as intense for the players as they have been given the afternoon off by Klopp. Being shortlisted as a nominee for a Ballon d‘Or, the Dortmund coach will travel to Zürich on Monday, with Hans-Joachim Watzke and Michael Zorc accompanying him to Switzerland.