DORTMUND, Germany—The German Bundesliga’s official website reflected on the German Super Cup final with praises for Armenian international and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, recalling his impressive performance, including the first of Dortmund’s two goals that won the game.

 

The German league’s website stated: “Admittedly, injuries and the lack of match fitness of several key players had prevented [Bayern Munich manager] Pep Guardiola from fielding his strongest side at Signal Iduna Park, but that did little to dampen the cautious optimism of Dortmund’s Armenian star Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the wake of Wednesday 2-0 win.”

“The match is over now and we have to focus on our first Bundesliga game, but we feel great to have won a title,” the website quotes Mkhitaryan.

It was Mkhitaryan who set Dortmund on their way to victory against the record titleholders Bayern Munich, thumping a loose ball past Manuel Neuer midway through the first half, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed the victory with a well-placed header in the second half. “There is little chance of the former FC Shakhtar Donetsk man resting on his laurels, though, after enduring an up-and-down first campaign in German football,” Bundesliga.com says.

“I’m going to try to do more this season,” said the attacking midfielder, who scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in all competitions for Dortmund last year. “I’ll do my best. I don’t want to stay at this level of performance; I want to build on it. I always try to give my all in every game and in every training session to make our supporters happy.”

The 2013 Armenian Footballer of the Year played down Dortmund’s chances of winning the league out of Bayern’s clutches this season, however, holding to the view that Guardiola’s men are the team to beat.

“It’s going to be very difficult to challenge Bayern — they are an incredibly strong team,” he explained. “We have to do everything we can to make sure we finish in those top three places and qualify for the Champions League. That’s our goal for this season. Anything more is going to be very hard for us.”

“While finishing ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings this season may yet prove to be a tall order, Mkhitaryan and company have once again sounded an ominous warning that you write Borussia Dortmund off at your peril,” Bundesliga.com says.