Borussia Dortmund clinched a second successive German league title on Saturday, but Germany star Mario Goetze is already hoping for more silverware in next month's German Cup final.
Japan star Shinji Kagawa's 59th-minute strike sealed Dortmund's 2-0 win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday after midfelder Ivan Perisic's first-half header had put the hosts ahead at their sold out Signal Iduna Park.
The victory leaves Dortmund eight points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich with just two games left.
This is the eighth time that Dortmund have won the German league and the fifth time they have won the Bundesliga title since it was founded in 1963 as Dortmund extended their record unbeaten run to 26 league matches.
There was more good news for coach Jurgen Klopp when Germany's teenage star Goetze came off the bench -- it was the 19-year-old's first appearance since December having suffered with a groin injury since January.
He is eager to be fit for the German Cup final against Bayern Munich at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on May 12.
"What the team has achieved is phenomenal," said Goetze. "It was great to come on and get involved, but I still need more match time.
"I would like to get back to 100 percent fitness with the German Cup looming, which is our next challenge."
Poland's national team captain Jakub Blaszczykowski -- known as Kuba for short -- said he enjoyed Dortmund's second title just as much as the first.
"Each title tastes just as good, we put in a really good season," said the 26-year-old.
Defender Patrick Owomoyela said he was proud of the team for defending their title.
"We knew before the season that it would be difficult," said the ex-Germany defender.
"Nevertheless, we were able to assert ourselves. In the first year, you need a bit of luck, but in the second year, everyone gives everything they have against you.
"We can be very proud, this is something special."
The biggest smile of the night belonged to Dortmund coach Klopp.
"If there was ever a team who deserved to be champions, they are celebrating right over there," said Klopp, as his team poured giant glasses of beer over each other on the pitch, as is customary for the German champions.
"The boys have shown their character."
Klopp sprinted down the pitch to celebrate with Kagawa after the Japan international's goal and admitted he nearly ended up on the turf.
"It was very, very slippery, but I had to celebrate with him," said Klopp. "Shinji is so cool. He took it all in his stride."
Germany winger Kevin Grosskreutz dropped out of the match after breaking his nose in training, but after singing live on German television, he joined in the celebrations with his team-mates.
"I can't feel a thing anymore," he admitted. "I think we'll have more than a few beers in the changing rooms and it'll be a pretty big party in Dortmund tonight."
Source: AFP
