Mats Hummels: We have really grown in terms of our attitude and will

Mats Hummels believes that Borussia Dortmund have really grown as a team in terms of their attitude and will after being rightfully criticised for their mentality in recent years.

The word mentality is never too far away from Borussia Dortmund, with the players getting criticised for their attitude and commitment after pretty much every set-back. But the Black and Yellows have started to make signifcant progress on that front this season, and Mats Hummels feels that they have really grown as a team.

Following Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 win over AC Milan, Hummels said in an interview with Amazon Prime Video, "We've rightfullly been criticized a lot in recent years for our attitude or what's known as our mentality. But I don't think we should be criticized for that this season."

"We won in Newcastle, we won in Milan, we have won difficult Bundesliga away games. If we're being honest, the only big lapses were the 4-0 against Bayern and in Stuttgart. Those were our two really weak games, maybe Paris on the road. Apart from that, we've really grown, at least in terms of our attitude and will, and we are a team that is ready to pull together on the pitch."

Borussia Dortmund were written off by many in the UEFA Champions League after getting just one point from their first two matches. But three wins in a row helped them qualify from the so called group of death with a game to spare

Another big test awaits Borussia Dortmund this weekend as they take on Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen away from home. Xabi Alonso's side are in incredible form at the moment. So the game will be the perfect opportunity for the BVB players to issue another big response to their critics. And a win would also firmly catapult them back into the Bundesliga title race.