Christian Pulisic says Borussia Dortmund can challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title this season.
Bayern have won the title in each of the previous five seasons and finished a mammoth 18 points ahead of Dortmund last term.
However, Pulisic, 18, was bullish about BVB’s chances of preventing Bayern from winning their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title.
“We’ve got a big chance to win the league this coming season,” he said at BVB’s summer training camp in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.
The United States international has won 16 caps for his country but did not take part in the victorious Gold Cup campaign.
With previous coach Thomas Tuchel leaving the DFB Pokal winners in the summer, Pulisic, after consulting USMNT coach Bruce Arena, decided not to miss preseason under BVB’s new coach Peter Bosz.
Pulisic played 43 games last season, scoring five goals and providing 13 assists, as Tuchel’s second and final season in charge ended with BVB winning their first trophy in five years.
“Last year was a good step for my development, it was my first full year as a professional,” he said.
“I want to build on that. I want to score goals and be dangerous on the pitch. I don’t feel the pressure from fans or media. Only I can put pressure on myself, but I’m trying to keep a lid on things as much as possible.”
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.