Mats Hummels: Borussia Dortmund are good enough to win titles

Mats Hummels believes that Borussia Dortmund are good enough to win titles in the coming years, but first they must make themselves hard to beat.

Mats Hummels spoke about the sacking of Lucien Favre, the team’s recent performances, the next Borussia Dortmund head coach, his future and more in an interview with SportBILD. The Borussia Dortmund vice-captain believes that the team was lacking maturity in the last few performances of the Lucien Favre era, and they must ensure that they stop making things so easy for their opponents.

"“Too often we didn’t play grown-up football. The way we played football inevitably meant that we kept dropping points. We gave our opponents the balls, the goals and the points too easily. We have to stop doing that. It has to be hard work again to beat BVB – and not fun.”“In the past year and a half, mistakes have been creeping in. Edin has recognized the problems and is trying to drive them out in training.”"

Hummels also said that Borussia Dortmund have a squad that is capable of winning titles. But they must be up for the challenge if they are to taste success in the coming years. “We’re good enough to win a championship in the coming years,” he said, “But we have to be willing to fight for it ourselves. No one will give us the trophy as a gift.”

Asked about what kind of head coach Borussia Dortmund should look to appoint next, Hummels said that they need someone who can bring ‘determination, passion and toughness’ to the team.

"“We need someone who brings determination, passion and toughness. We’re brimming over with football talent right now. But when opponents come at us with tenacity, we still have problems too often.”"

The 32 year old also spoke about his own future and his career plans after his Borussia Dortmund contract expires at the end of the 2022/23 season.

"“If everything goes well, I’ll play another two and a half years at Dortmund. Then I have to see how my health is in the summer of 2023. Everything is possible, including retiring. For instance if the head says ‘no’.”“It’s almost too late for a transfer to another country. But honestly, I learned at some point in my career that you can’t plan anything.”"

Hummels – Moukoko one of the best players of his age I’ve played with

Mats Hummels also heaped praise on highly rated Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, calling him one of the best young players he has played with. “He’s already really good. I played with Toni Kroos, Mario Götze and Christian Pulisic when they were 16 or 17, and Youssoufa is definitely one of the best players I’ve played with at that age,” Hummels said.

Moukoko became the Bundesliga’s youngest ever player in November when he made his senior debut just one day after his 16th birthday. He scored his first senior goal against Union Berlin last month, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Bundesliga history.