Meunier targets Dortmund titles after disappointing PSG exit

Dortmund, Germany (dpa) – Thomas Meunier is targeting titles with Borussia Dortmund in his first season with the Bundesliga club after moving from Paris Saint-Germain.

“If you look at the quality of our squad, then in the coming years the club simply has to win something again,” the Belgian defender told dpa.

“And we will do that. My desire for victories and titles knows no limit.”

Meunier, 28, won the Belgian league and cup with Club Brugge and claimed three successive Ligue 1 titles and numerous cups with PSG. The right back was part of the Belgium squad that finished third at the 2018 World Cup.

Meunier would like to have delayed his arrival in Dortmund by a few weeks to seek one more honour with PSG but a deal for him to play in August’s Champions League final tournament in Lisbon could not be reached.

Dortmund officials were willing, Meunier says, but PSG sport director Leonardo was not.

“Leonardo has at no time tried to find an agreement with Dortmund, let alone with me,” Meunier said. “He wanted me to appear for PSG practically for free.”

Instead he was informed through a legal letter to stay away from the club’s grounds. His own lawyer attempted to gain him access for training purposes, in light of the coronavirus shutdown, but was rebuffed.

“Then I was told by phone that I shouldn’t cross the path of whoever because I could tell disturbing stories,” Meunier said. “[A] typical case of loss of reality.”

“Leonardo has told the press in France that I had refused a contract extension. But that’s not correct, I want to say that very clearly.”

Meunier is equally critical of the decisions in France and Belgium to scrap the last league season because of the coronavirus and not resume like in other major European leagues.

“The associations have in this way ruined a complete season of hard work and will to win,” he said. “In contrast to the rest of the big five leagues, France put pragmatism over the organization of the clubs and their sporting and economic well being.

“For me it was a sign that football in France still does not have the same cultural meaning as in other countries.”

Before his free transfer to Dortmund, Meunier did not seek the opinion of PSG coach and former Borussia boss Thomas Tuchel.

“When I make a decision, I always try to trust my own feelings in the first case,” said Meunier, who will take the place of Achraf Hakimi, departed for Inter Milan, in the Dortmund line-up.

His cooperation with Tuchel was described by Meunier as “professionally good,” though he felt the coach sometimes behaved “as though he was not completely free.

“If you are not (Pep) Guardiola, (Jose) Mourinho or (Carlo) Ancelotti, a coach who has won everything himself, then you have to be really good with your staff to quickly watch out and understand how things are going with players around you who have already won everything in football and can at any time direct you and your stay at the club.”