- Title: SOCCER-DORTMUND/MALAYSIA Borussia Dortmund welcomed to Malaysia
- Date: 9th July 2015
- Summary: JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA (JULY 9, 2015)(REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BORUSSIA DORTMUND FANS STANDING OUTSIDE HOTEL FANS HOLDING BANNER READING (English and German): 'WELCOME TO JOHOR/ WILKOMMEN IN JOHOR BORUSSIA DORTMUND' BORUSSIA DORTMUND MIDFIELDER ILKAY GUNDOGAN GREETING MALAYSIAN FANS CLUB CAPTAIN MATS HUMMELS HAVING PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN WITH FANS MIDFI
- Embargoed: 24th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAF10YRJTNFZEY787SK0GT2XY6X
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Eight-time Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund are geared up for a pre-season match away to 2014 Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) on Thursday (July 9).
After their 6-0 demolition of J-League side Kawasaki Frontale in Japan, Borussia Dortmund arrived in Johor Bahru for the second leg of their Asian tour.
Dortmund and JDT - commonly known as the Southern Tigers - agreed a development partnership last year and the German club's Chief Operating Officer, Carsten Cramer, told a news conference in English on Thursday: "We are very thankful for the trustiness of JDT and Borussia Dortmund, it might be a kind of adventure for your club as well and for us to experience because we have no collaboration like this signed before and our intention is to stay together as long as possible. I hope it doesn't depends on the match tonight and the result."
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, also speaking English at the news conference, promised great football for the local fans.
"Yes, of course I want to say that it going to be interesting game because it the first time that we going to play against Malaysian team and for us also it's very interesting to see our rival today and we going to try to do everything to play nice game and to make happy the supporters."
Thursday's match will be the first time that Dortmund's new coach Thomas Tuchel, who succeeded Juergen Klopp on a three-year-deal, leads the team.
"I think we have to improve our quality of the team because it's very important , new coach, new team, we play another football so we try to do everything to be ready for the start of the season," said Mkhitaryan.
One Dortmund fan travelled from Brunei to Malaysia for the match.
Shazwan Takiyuddin, aged 21, said: "I'm from Brunei. I came all the way to see Borussia Dortmund on and off the pitch ... I'm expecting a very tight game and I hope they're enjoying the match." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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