Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 7y

Borussia Dortmund CEO Watzke: New-look team will encounter setbacks

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has warned fans that Thomas Tuchel's team will face setbacks despite their impressive start to the season.

On Tuesday, Tuchel's young side drew 2-2 with Champions League holders Real Madrid at the Westfalenstadion, twice recovering from behind thanks to goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Andre Schurrle.

The performance was widely praised, and Watzke told Bild: "I believe that this match has thrilled people throughout Europe, and the 2-2 was highly deserved in the end."

But he said Tuchel and his players would inevitably face bumps in the road, adding: "There will be one setback or another, that's for sure. But we are all aware of that."

Dortmund, who sold Ilkay Gundogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and club captain Mats Hummels in the summer, invested heavily in a new generation of hopefuls from all over Europe.

Signings included Portugal international Raphael Guerreiro, Barcelona defender Marc Bartra and highly rated youngsters Emre Mor and Ousmane Dembele.

"Thomas Tuchel has managed to form a new team within a very short period of time. That's a great achievement. And [sporting director] Michael Zorc has again had a golden touch with transfers," Watzke said.

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