Borussia Dortmund's sporting manager Nils-Ole Book takes nothing for granted ahead of their Champions League clash against Azerbaijani debutants, Sabah FK in Baku.
The BVB's struggles post the international break continues with a frustrating 0-0 draw with Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
It's the third match in a row where Niko Kovac's side were rendered winless, whilst also failing to find the back of the net in consecutive outings.
The slump in form has threatened to unravel their season sooner than anyone expected but Dortmund have no time to stew in their juice as another important clash is fast approaching.
Sabah FK host them in Baku tomorrow for matchday three of the Champions League season as the competition debutants are looking for their first major scalp.
As Dortmund undertake a five-hour journey to the Caspian Sea, Nils-Ole Book feels that's only a part of the challenge facing his team as he braces for extreme weather conditions too.
"It’s also a test of willpower—it’ll be 25 degrees there."
Last Wednesday too, Dortmund had a similarly challenging visit to northern Norwegian city of Bodo, where an artifical turf awaited them in chilly winter conditions.
The BVB could never rise to the occasion, cutting a toothless figure going forward as the Superlaget beat them 1-0 at the Aspymra Stadium, where a few other big names have bit the dust before them.
Ole Book feels tomorrow's clash is a chance for them to show they have learnt their lessons.
"That’s where we can show what lessons we’ve learned and that the UEFA Champions League match in Norway was just a slip-up. We’ve just been given the opportunity to learn and improve together as a team. We’re eager to take it."
Just four days after the loss, Dortmund took another trip to Berlin for their league match against Union Berlin and failed to score in yet another underwhelming perfomance.
Once again, the introduction of substitutes injected some much-needed attacking verve but a goal remained elusive and the Prussians were forced to split the points.
"Sure, we’d been on a better run before, especially in terms of results. It was a tough away game, and we may have lacked a bit of freshness. Though I did think it went much better, especially in terms of attitude."
With a second league draw in a row, Dortmund remained in second place of the Bundesliga standings with 14 points as Bayern Munich returned to the top by virtue of better goal-difference.
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