USA international Gio Reyna is looking to add greater intensity to his game under new Borussia Dortmund coach Marco Rose, and it appears to be working already, with the BVB starlet saying he is "improving day by day" under the German tactician.

The 18-year-old was on target in Dortmund's 3-0 win over Bologna on Friday, but it's defensively that the new boss is most challenging his midfielder to improve.

Captain Marco Reus earlier explained that Rose is demanding a higher line and a more aggressive press to Dortmund's play this season, something American teenager Reyna has also been tasked with carrying out during defensive phases at the top end of the pitch.

"I think he wants me to improve on the defensive side of the ball," Reyna told former Dortmund man Patrick 'Owo' Owomoyela in an interview posted on the club's social media platforms.

"He wants us to be very energetic, he wants the whole team to press. For myself, this is an area I can improve and he's giving me little tips on how to get closer to attackers when they have the ball and to try and get the ball in areas where I can be more efficient on the defensive end.

"I'm trying to take every bit of advice in and I think I'm improving day by day."

Watch: Gio Reyna's learning curve in 2020/21

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Giovanni Alejandro

Reyna

Borussia Dortmund

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Having lifted the DFB Cup last season and qualified for this season's UEFA Champions League, Rose has been tasked with moving Dortmund up a gear this time around.

In his pursuit of shouldering more responsibility in 2021/22, Reyna is confident that the changes being made in Rose's first pre-season at the helm will allow spur Dortmund on to even greater success this term.

"We want to have an energetic type of football so this is what we need. We need to be fit, work together and I'm sure it can be really effective," added the eight-time US international

"We're working really hard, with the first [Bundesliga] game in less than two weeks. There's a lot of preparation up until then, we're going to try and perfect our style of play and fitness, and I'm sure in the coming weeks we're going to have a really great team and some great performances to start the season off."

Dortmund are now returning from their training camp in Switzerland to continue preparations ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt's Matchday 1 visit to the Signal Iduna Park on 14 August. Die Schwarzgelben begin their DFB Cup defence a week earlier lower-league Wehen Wiesbaden.

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Borussia Dortmund

SIGNAL IDUNA PARK