During their pre-season training camp in Austria, the Borussia Dortmund women’s team is strategizing to secure promotion to the 2. Bundesliga after narrowly missing out last season, finishing just two points shy of the playoffs despite an impressive goal difference of +101.

To avoid a repeat of last year’s near-miss, the club has bolstered its squad with high-profile signings, including Manuela Zinsberger, the Austrian goalkeeper who previously played for Bayern Munich and Arsenal, and Alexandra Popp, a German football legend. Managing director Svenja Schlenker emphasizes the club's commitment, stating, "We have great new players, we have a great environment."

Zinsberger, who made the surprising decision to leave Arsenal, cites family reasons and her conversations with Schlenker as pivotal in her move. She expresses her excitement for the upcoming season and acknowledges the club's ambition to join the ranks of top teams like Bayern, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Frauen-Bundesliga.

Schlenker acknowledges the financial investment needed for success, stating, "It means we will have to spend a lot of money... we just concentrate on the third division and then we think about what we have to do in the next few years."

The addition of Zinsberger and Popp, along with Ralf Kellermann, the former Wolfsburg sporting director, marks a significant step in Dortmund's ambitions. Zinsberger highlights the importance of team cohesion and the necessity of winning every game.

Dortmund plans to enhance its infrastructure by building a new training facility next to the men’s campus, reflecting their long-term vision for women’s football. Zinsberger expresses her satisfaction with these developments, emphasizing the need for proper facilities to nurture future talent.