OFFICIAL: Dortmund completes first summer training session with Kovac leading 22 players

According to official reports from Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Dortmund has concluded its first summer training session. Robert Kovač led 22 players in preparation at the Borussia Dortmund Brackel training ground.

Two days prior, Borussia Dortmund players had already completed routine physical fitness tests, and only on Tuesday did they step onto the grass for training for the first time.

In coach Niko Kovač's squad, in addition to the injured captain Emre Can, players who participated in the World Cup are still on vacation. Ryerson, who was injured and substituted during Norway's quarter-final match against England, sustained minor injuries and is expected to return to Borussia Dortmund in full health after his vacation.

Kovač also called up 11 young players from the Borussia Dortmund youth academy to participate in the first training session alongside first-team players such as Guirassy, Silva, Bellingham, and Yan Couto.

New summer signings Joan Gadu and Justin Lerma made their first appearance in a joint training session. The 18-year-old center-back and 19-year-old midfielder appeared engaged and active from the start.

Kramer, Ricken, and Bock observed the first training session in person.

Ricken, interviewed by the media on the sidelines, said: "All the players and staff are looking forward to it; it has finally begun. I've been really looking forward to this preparation period." The sporting director also set goals for the coming weeks: Borussia Dortmund needs to be ready for the German Super Cup against Bayern Munich on August 22.

Ricken said: "Starting today, everything is in motion. We want to create the conditions to achieve the best possible results this season."

In addition to Ricken, other members of the Borussia Dortmund management also attended the team's first training session. Carsten Cramer, spokesman for the executive board, and Ole Bock, sporting director, both observed the training progress from the sidelines.

As the preparation began, the training focus was on ball-oriented content. After simple coordination exercises, the players quickly engaged in high-intensity passing drills and small-sided games.

In the latter half of the training, Niko Kovač demanded full effort from the young players through offensive and defensive transition drills and several shooting drills. The Borussia Dortmund coach occasionally shouted "Speed, speed, speed" and praised the players for their successful execution. After all, for many youth academy players, this was their first time training on the field with the first team.

Young players, represented by Mathis Albert and Samuuele Ignacio, have already shown good instincts in front of goal. Facing Alexander Meyer and Patrick Drewes in goal, they produced several excellent shots.

Under the watchful eyes of numerous media reporters, Kovač had the Borussia Dortmund players train for nearly two hours in total. In the coming days, Borussia Dortmund will continue training at Brackel until next Saturday at 5 PM, when they will play their first pre-season warm-up match away against regional league team Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.

On August 15, Borussia Dortmund will host a grand season opening event. In addition to a variety of accompanying activities, both the men's team and Borussia Dortmund women's team will play warm-up matches against Roma. At 1 PM, with the addition of new signing Alexandra Popp, the Borussia Dortmund women's team will take the field first on the clay court; at 5 PM, the German runner-up will face the Serie A team at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK for a tougher test. Please rush to purchase tickets for the Borussia Dortmund women's and men's team season opening event on the online ticketing store. Mats Jannick Rose