"A step in the right direction" - Gregor Kobel hails Borussia Dortmund's defensive improvements

Gregor Kobel has hailed Borussia Dortmund's recent defensive improvements, and believes that they have taken a step in the right direction in recent weeks and months.

It is clear that Borussia Dortmund have made huge progress in terms of their defending since the turn of the year. The Black and Yellows have shown great resolve in defence, with the back four appearing to be a much more cohesive unit. This has made the job of Gregor Kobel a lot easier, with the Switzerland international not having to dig his side out of trouble time and again anymore.

Kobel is of the opinion that Borussia Dortmund's defenders have made some good progress, and now their aim has to be to keep it up. "I think that Nico Schlotterbeck, Mats Hummels and Niklas Süle are doing a great job," Kobel said in a media round on Tuesday. "We're also very united as a team, very disciplined. You can see that we have the will to defend. We've definitely taken steps in the right direction over the last few weeks and months, and we have to keep it up.

Nico Schlotterbeck believes that Borussia Dortmund's defensive coordination has improved, thanks in part to more continuity and consistency in the starting XI. "We no longer have to change positions so much and have now often played with the same back four and the same midfield, which has made us more solid. The individual performances have also improved a lot. I'm very pleased with how things have gone so far in the second half of the season."

The Borussia Dortmund defenders are set to face two tough tests of their defensive resolve, as they take on the in-form RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this weekend, before going up against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal tie.