Gundogan: Dortmund are getting stronger
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes his side are currently better than they were last season when they cruised to a second straight Bundesliga title.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
Dortmund finished last season eight points ahead of runners-up Bayern Munich, losing just three games and setting a new record for most points gained in a Bundesliga campaign.
And while Jurgen Klopp's men have lost key members from that side in Shinji Kagawa and Lucas Barrios they have made a number of key signings in Germany international Marco Reus, German-Brazilian youngster Leonardo Bittencourt and former Stuttgart forward Julien Schieber.
Gundogan believes Bayern will once again start the new season as favourites for the title, but insists Dortmund are a stronger side than they were last season.
"Bayern are the favourites, just like they were in the past few years," the Germany international told Bild. "We don't have to fear anyone, though.
"We have shown what we're capable of last season.
"We have all developed further and the team has been strengthened. Our squad is of absolute top level. We are still getting stronger and better."
The one disappointing aspect of Dortmund's campaign last season was their failure to progress from the Champions League group stages, something Gundogan reveals they are looking to accomplish this year.
"We want to show more of ourselves in the Champions League," he added. "We have learned from our mistakes.
"Our players gained a lot of international experience, and that will help us too. It is our goal to at least survive the group stage."
Gundogan joined Dortmund from Nuremberg as the start of last season as a replacement for Nuri Sahin, and went on to play 27 times in the league for BVB, earning a call-up to the Germany squad for Euro 2012 in the process.