“It feels like we’ve gained new energy” – Gio Reyna targets title push with Borussia Dortmund

Gio Reyna believes that Borussia Dortmund are getting better every day and they can fight for the Bundesliga title this season.

After making his breakthrough in the senior team in 2020, Gio Reyna has become a regular starter for Borussia Dortmund this season. The 18 year old has made 24 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring four goals and assisting a further six. He believes that the Black and Yellows have made big progress in recent weeks, and now there is a real sense of optimism at the club. In an interview with BILD, Reyna said:

"“It feels like we’ve just gained new energy, new confidence, and there are new ideas that the team has started to embrace. You can see that we are getting better every day. The style we play now suits our team very well.”"

Borussia Dortmund face crunch six-pointers against Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach next week, and Reyna knows all about the importance of winning those games.

"“Saturday is Mainz, we have to win that. Then it’s on to Leverkusen and Gladbach. Of course, we want to get the maximum out of these games – and then we’ll see.”“It will be a question of mentality. We want to stay in the title race, so we have to win these games. We know that if we use all the talent we have in us as a team, then we can compete against any opponent and beat them too.”"

Reyna also spoke about the compressed nature of the current season. He said that he has never been as ‘mentally and physically exhausted’ as he was after the game against Union Berlin last month. Borussia Dortmund did get a ten day winter break, but the players had to return to training after just five days off.

"“It’s been a crazy season. I’ve never been so mentally and physically exhausted as I was after the Union game. And then there was also the game in the cup in Braunschweig, after that I was completely exhausted. I really needed a break, but in the end it was only four days off over Christmas.”"

Reyna also heaped praise on Erling Haaland, who has picked up right where he left off before his injury. The American Dream said that Borussia Dortmund sorely missed the presence of Haaland when he was out with a torn muscle fibre and called him an outstanding player.

"“For us attacking players, it’s great to play with a striker like Erling. During the time he was injured, we missed him a lot – you only have to look at his statistics and numbers. He’s an outstanding player,” Reyna said."

Reyna will miss Borussia Dortmund’s clash against Mainz with a throat infection, but will be hoping to make his return for Tuesday’s game against Bayer Leverkusen.