Dortmund focused on title defence, says Kagawa

Posted Monday, January 30, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Japanese winger Shinji Kagawa says German champions Borussia Dortmund are fully focused on defending the Bundesliga title after his two goals helped keep his side level at the top of the table with Bayern Munich.

The 22-year-old gave his side an early lead at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday and then combined with Germany midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz to score a superb second goal and wrap up a 3-1 win which gives them 40 points.

There is now a three-way tie in the Bundesliga with Bayern, Dortmund and Schalke, who won 4-1 at Cologne also on Saturday, all level on points but Kagawa says his team are just focusing on the way they play, not their rivals.

"We don't worry about our opponents, only on what we are doing," said Kagawa.

"We are playing to our strengths and it was good that we managed to get an early goal which brought us into the game."

Having scored six goals in 17 appearances this season, Kagawa is recapturing the great form he showed last season, his first in Germany, as Dortmund went on to win the title.

His second goal, on 55 minutes, was straight out of a coaching manual as he ran onto a crisp backheel from Grosskreutz and buried his shot in the back of the net.

"I'm really happy that I scored two goals, because I had really prepared for this game.

"Our third goal was something out of a text book, but the pass from Kevin was great."

Kagawa has become a firm fans favourite here and Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park stadium echoed with chants of "Shinji! Shinji!".

"He constantly wants the ball, is fast, has good vision on the pitch and reads the game well, plus he has unbelievable movement," enthused coach Jurgen Klopp.

Dortmund have had teenage Germany star Mario Goetze ruled out for up to eight weeks with a groin injury, but Grosskreutz combined well with Kagawa to compensate.

"Shinji and I get on well both on and off the pitch, it's always fun to play with such a good footballer," said Grosskreutz, who scored Dortmund's second goal.

Dortmund's next league date is away at Nuremberg on Friday.