Thomas Delaney expects Bayern Munich to recover, but says Borussia Dortmund are an "amazing bunch"
Thomas Delaney insists that he and Borussia Dortmund will not be lulled into a false sense of security, as he warns that Bayern Munich are still favourites to win the Bundesliga this season.
Dortmund lead the way heading into Matchday 8, but their four-point advantage over the defending champions, who have slipped to sixth, is not something the Westphalians can feel relaxed about as they travel to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
"I think we only have to go back one year and we will see the same situation for Bayern Munich," Delaney told Goal.com. "It is too early to say that [there is a crisis]. I wouldn't stand here and say that we now go for the title."
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Delaney is nevertheless buoyed by Borussia's chances, as they bid to extend their unbeaten start to the season this Saturday. "Of course, we have done well," he continued. "We have sometimes been a little bit lucky, we had the results with us. But in the end, we are a new team, there are a lot of new guys, a lot of young guys, a new coach, but we are very satisfied so far."
That satisfaction is growing by the game, as Favre blends a youthful bunch of talented players into a side who – hide from it or not – have the credentials to go all the way this season. And Delaney, a summer recruit from Werder Bremen, is excited to be part of it.
"It's good. It's a different level. It's been challenging," said the Denmark international. "You talk a lot about how it's easier to play football for a good team, but there is also more expected from you. I feel that. There are very good players there.
"We have an 18-year-old who plays for the England national team in Jadon Sancho, Christian Pulisic has 100 games in the Bundesliga and is just 20 years old. We have an amazing bunch of not only young guys, but young guys with great talent."
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The bunch is big, though, and with UEFA Champions League, DFB Cup and Bundesliga fixtures all lined up one after the other, it is inevitable that not everybody will play every game – Delaney included.
"It is difficult," said the 27-year-old. "You see a lot of rotation due to the talent we have. If you look at the holding six-eight position, we maybe have four players who are more or less equal and more or less in the same boat not just in their own personal opinion but by the club, and they all think they should play because of what they have done.
"You have [Mahmoud] Dahoud, you have [Julian] Weigl who have both been dominant in the league. You have [Axel] Witsel who plays in the Belgium national team and me, and we're a little bit older. It's a tough situation, but it's very nice to be a part of."
Very nice indeed when you are top of the league, and Delaney and Dortmund will hope it will continue – at least up to Der Klassiker on Matchday 11, when the two dominant forces of the last decade in Germany can measure up to see who really does hold the best title credentials this season.