According to Bild, Borussia Dortmund's trip to Japan has left the players increasingly fatigued, and head coach Niko Kovač has imposed strict sleep requirements on the entire team.

The Croatian coach has asked players to try and not go to bed until after 2 AM. This is because Tokyo is seven hours ahead of Germany, and the time difference and climate are affecting the players' routines. The team sometimes eats dinner close to midnight, and breakfast is usually scheduled for 1 PM.

These unusual arrangements are intended to minimize the effects of jet lag upon returning to Germany on Sunday. At noon local time on Thursday, young player Samuel Inacio, while being interviewed at a Puma store in a shopping mall, had sweat constantly dripping into his eyes and had to pause his answers to reporters' questions. Staff then handed him a handkerchief.

On Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund first lost 0-1 to Osaka in a warm-up match, and then had to take a short flight to Tokyo after midnight, not turning off the lights and resting until 3 AM that night. The trip was indeed tough, but at least there were two positive factors that made it less difficult: the entire team became more united and more familiar with each other, and these gains are expected to pay off for Borussia Dortmund this season.

However, the fact is that some international players in the team did not travel with the squad and will only join the team after the Japan trip. Only then will the real preparations begin.

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