The Borussia Dortmund U23s have arrived at their training camp in Austria, where a packed schedule awaits them. Eight training sessions and one friendly fixture will test the 19-man squad and – if the goal is achieved – gel it into a team that can compete in the 3. Liga.

It required skill, patience and good nerves from driver Thomas in order to guide the BVB team bus through the narrow streets of Kirchberg in Tyrol. He will certainly not be the only one to work up a sweat this week. Coach Jan Zimmermann will summon his players twice a day to the training premises of local club SV Brixen im Thale. “The pitch is even better than it has been in recent years. Perhaps that’s down to the fact that Brixen have been promoted,” said sporting director Ingo Preuß with a wink.

There are 12 new faces in the BVB squad. But the full dozen have not made the journey to Austria. That’s because Edin Terzic needs Samuel Bamba, Ole Pohlmann or Paul Besong to train with the Bundesliga team, with the international players having only returned at the weekend. 

Nine new signings have travelled to Tyrol. Among them is Julian Hettwer, who moved to Dortmund from league rivals Duisburg a few days ago. The 20-year-old striker is still training individually in Austria after recovering from an injury.

Everyone else is completing the full training programme. Three goalkeepers and 15 outfield players. The schedule includes a wide variety of sessions: processes, tactics, set-pieces, automatisms. Jan Zimmermann comes onto the pitch time and time again, correcting positions and explaining passing and running channels. You will find out what his philosophy is and what goals he is setting himself and the team for the 2023/24 season in an interview from the U23 training camp, which will be available on BVB-TV in the coming days.

BVB fans who are on holiday in Tyrol are cordially invited to come to the SV Brixen in Thale facilities as spectators. Training will be at 10:00 CET on Monday, 10:30 CET and 16:00 CET on Tuesday, and 10:30 CET on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, our U23s will play a friendly match against Belgian second-tier team SK Lommel. Kick-off at the SAK Stadion in Salzburg is at 18:00 CET.

But the BVB players will also be granted a little time to enjoy the picturesque view over the Tyrolean Alps by their coaching team. And there is the enticing prospect of the bathing lake in Brixen right next door after training sessions.