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Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze says improvement is needed after finally forcing his way into Lucien Favre’s plans.
Gotze did not make a single appearance under his new boss until October, but played much more regularly towards the end of 2018, featuring in seven straight league games.
The 26-year-old, who netted the winner in the 2014 World Cup final, has found himself behind the likes of Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus in the pecking order but says he is determined to grasp his chance when the Bundesliga season gets back underway next weekend.
“There are times when things are not going according to plan, and of course you never want those times,” Gotze told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
“The beginning of the season was very tricky, I have to admit. “But I’m not a player who says, ‘I’m down’. I’m a team player and think of the team first.
“It’s important to reflect and draw the right conclusions. There is only one way for me to continue, [that is] working on myself, continuing to do my best. “The way the year ended was again very positive for me. From this I draw strength for the next months.”
Dortmund travel to RB Leipzig on Saturday looking to extend their six-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
