Boldly into the title defence! BVB youngsters go again in PLIC
“In our very first year, we went straight in and won it. That was extraordinary. Now we’ll see how far we can go this time,” says Thomas Broich, Sporting Director of the academy, looking ahead t...
In an exciting debut, Borussia Dortmund's U23 team has made a triumphant return to the PLIC tournament, following in the footsteps of their more experienced counterparts, FC Bayern Munich. Sporting Director Thomas Broich expressed optimism, stating, "Now we’ll see how far we can go this time." The team's average age was just over 19 years during the final against Real Madrid, a significant contrast to the 21-year-old average of Real Madrid's squad.
The PLIC format pits 32 teams - 16 English youth sides against 16 international top clubs - in a group stage followed by knockout rounds. For this season, Dortmund will face only English U21 opponents in Group C, with matches scheduled against Fulham FC, Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Nottingham Forest. Daniel Rios, the U23 coach, acknowledges the challenges ahead, stating, "Opponents will be even more motivated against the defending champions."
However, he encourages the team to embrace the privilege of being the defending champions and encourages the players to enjoy the experience. Last season, Dortmund's campaign was marked by strong performances, securing top spot in the group with wins against Leeds United, West Ham United, Sunderland AFC, and Manchester United. The team, consisting mainly of U23 players, has benefited from valuable experience in international matches.
Notable players include Mathis Albert, Kaua Prates, Luca Reggiani, Justin Lerma, Luke Fahrenhorst, Jan-Luca Riedl, and the unavailable Beni Ngyombo, Felix Paschke, and Pharell Kegni due to injury.
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