by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Despite having its best season start in eight years, 2024 UEFA Champions League finalist Borussia Dortmund is keeping expectations in check.

The recent upswing is "nice to have," as coach Niko Kovac put it. "But there is reason to calm down. It's only the fifth matchday," the 53-year-old said.

Ahead of the Black and Yellow's Champions League match against Bilbao on Wednesday, the former midfielder refused to discuss his team as a contender for the national title.

"Our topic is consistency and staying on track," he said, while statistics suggest the once wavering side has regained stability.

Four straight clean sheets, sparked by a switch to a three-man defense, have revived confidence. Dortmund is now unbeaten in 13 matches across competitions, with a goal record of 22-3 to back it up.

With stability has come efficiency. Serhou Guirassy has scored four goals in four games, supported by Karim Adeyemi's three in five.

An average of 2.1 points this season marks Dortmund's strongest start in club history, adding up to 35 points from the past 39 available.

Still, club CEO Lars Ricken isn't eager to embrace the familiar "Bayern hunter" label given to Bayern Munich's challengers.

"We had that role last season. We didn't refuse it, but we dropped to 11th and only just made the Champions League," said the 49-year-old. "For now, the goal is to achieve a good start and not get ahead of ourselves."

"What we have is no coincidence, no one-hit wonder. It's a development," added the 1997 Champions League winner.

Defender Nico Schlotterbeck expressed hope of keeping the title race close. "I wear the BVB shirt to win something," he said. Midfielder Julian Brandt was more direct, admitting the team is "in a certain hunting role, as it looks good at present."

But bold predictions are still discouraged. After striker Maximilian Beier recently spoke about winning the league, Kovac joked, "I assumed he had a drink at halftime. I'll get him back down to earth again."

Kovac insists Dortmund's new pragmatism may succeed where past open attacking styles fell short. Even so, he concedes the squad is growing in belief.

While the defense has tightened, forwards are thriving on counterattacks. Adeyemi's emergence as a reliable scorer alongside Guirassy, Kovac noted, could help Dortmund turn matches more quickly in its favor. ■