Klopp: Dortmund forwards need time to gel

Borussia Dortmund head coach Juergen Klopp admits his side are struggling in attack early in the season but says that comes as no surprise.

The Bundesliga giants thrashed Augsburg 4-0 in their league opener but battled to breakthrough against newly promoted Eintracht Braunschweig before claiming a 2-1 win.

Speaking ahead of his team’s clash at home to fellow unbeaten side Werder Bremen, Klopp is unconcerned that Dortmund are yet to find their best in the attacking third.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted a hat-trick on his Dortmund debut, while fellow signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first appearance for the club came against Braunschweig, and the duo are likely to need time to gel with their new team-mates.

“It’s not unusual to struggle a bit in attack at the beginning of the season. We have been more creative in the past,” Klopp said.

“But, I could see my team working hard over 90 minutes, focusing on the game against Braunschweig and that’s what we will require against Bremen in order to be successful.

“That’s what we are planning to do.”

Like Dortmund, Werder Bremen have played Braunschweig and Augsburg in their opening two matches, winning both 1-0.

Klopp labelled their two wins ‘lucky’ but believes they will be full of confidence having ended a run of 13 Bundesliga matches without a win, a streak which had stretched back to February.

“I think Bremen know that their first two wins against Eintracht Braunschweig and Augsburg were quite lucky,” Klopp said.

“Braunschweig could have drawn, Augsburg had a lot of possession and a lot of chances but Bremen were patient and fought very well.

“I didn’t even realise until listening to an interview with (Bremen midfielder) Zlatko Junuzovic, saying it was their first win since February.

“And that’s how it must have felt for them. It gives them a boost for the week and they should be more confident.”