Beier: Dortmund Eye Extra Step, Wary of Bayern in Klassiker

Borussia Dortmund are approaching this season with a different ambition. Maximilian Beier, Die Borussen's young forward, stressed that his team does not want to repeat last season's mistakes, when they often dropped points in tight matches. He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the Bundesliga, ahead of a packed run of fixtures, including Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich.

Last season, Dortmund finished as runners-up with their best points tally since 2018/19. For Beier, however, that achievement is not enough. He highlighted several matches they should have won, such as the home game against VfB Stuttgart, the trip to St. Pauli, and the visit to Hamburg. "We discussed it in pre-season because we dropped too many points. If we had picked up those points, our position would be much better," he said.

A significant change is visible in the summer recruitment. Dortmund brought in Konstantinos Karetsas, Giannis Konstantelias, and Joey Veerman. According to Beier, their arrival adds a new dimension in attack. "Veerman brings calmness and good distribution of the ball. We signed strong players," he said. Although Konstantelias is still injured, Beier believes his quality remains outstanding.

Beier's relationship with coach Niko Kovač is a key factor. He says he often has open discussions, including when he was not called up by the German national team. "Kovač spoke to me a lot and made me feel good. That conversation left a mark," he recalled. Kovač is known for emphasizing small details and discipline, which Beier says form the foundation of the team's play.

"We want to take an extra step this season. We have to finish tight matches with wins." — Maximilian Beier

Tactically, Beier says Dortmund have made progress in attack compared with last season. The defense remains solid, often recording clean sheets. "We are keeping the same approach and want to stay on this path," he said. Positional flexibility is also part of Beier's role; he says he is more comfortable as an out-and-out striker but is ready to be deployed anywhere for the team.

Looking ahead to Der Klassiker, Beier is wary of Bayern Munich's attacking quality, which he rates as world-class. "They can create something out of nothing at any moment. That is what made Bayern strong last season and this season," he said. Although Dortmund are temporarily above Bayern in the standings, Beier is reluctant to be complacent. "We'll see," he said briefly.

For Indonesian football fans, the Dortmund versus Bayern duel is always an intriguing spectacle, especially with more talented young players like Beier showing their potential. The question is whether Dortmund can maintain consistency and truly take the extra step they have promised, or whether Bayern will again show their dominance. Time will tell, starting with Der Klassiker.