"I've given away my Champions League medal" – Dortmund star not interested in finishing second

Six games into the Bundesliga season, Borussia Dortmund remain unbeaten and sit second, four points behind reigning champions Bayern Munich.

For BVB’s Norwegian full-back Julian Ryerson, however, finishing second holds little appeal.

For instance, he no longer has the medal he received after Borussia Dortmund lost the 2024 Champions League final 0-2 to Real Madrid.

“I’ve said since I was a kid that I don’t want to collect second places. I’ve already given away my 2024 Champions League medal – it’s somewhere in my parents’ cupboard. Second places don’t interest me,” Ryerson told Ruhr Nachrichten after Dortmund’s 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig.

Even though he believes Dortmund could have earned more points so far, Ryerson remains optimistic about the team’s start to the season.

“To be honest, we could have taken more points. But the start makes me optimistic. The energy in the team is good, and we fight for each other,” he said.

“We really wanted to win against Leipzig, even though we didn’t create many big chances. Overall, we concede very few goals, which gives me confidence.”