Julian Brandt: "Coutinho a real boon for the Bundesliga!"

Coutinho is set to join Bayern on a season-long loan from Barcelona, and could make his Bundesliga debut as early as next weekend against Schalke.

Bayern could be as many as five points behind Dortmund by the time the game kicks off, however, after they drew with Hertha Berlin and BVB thrashed Augsburg 5-1 on Matchday 1.

After stepping off the bench to score on his Dortmund debut, Brandt spoke about his side's blistering start, what Bayern's acquisition of Coutinho means for the German top flight and his plans for the Matchday 2 opener against promoted Cologne...

bundesliga.com: Julian Brandt, beating Augsburg 5-1 was the dream start to the season, right?

Julian Brandt: "It was superb! I think the first games are so important. There are times when you don't start the season well - it puts a dampener on things. We weren't switched on in the first couple of minutes, but otherwise we were fantastic. We equalised within three minutes. It was a top performance from the lads."

bundesliga.com: Was the performance proof that Dortmund's front line are going to score a lot of goals this season?

Brandt: "Definitely, but it's still not perfect. It's only the start of the season. The coach rightly said that we're a work in progress and still have to learn. That said, a win like that does the power of good - for me and the team."

bundesliga.com: Your biggest rivals, Bayern, dropped two points. What did you make of the game and the result?

Brandt: "I think we all watched the game in our hotel rooms. I don't want to get too carried away with it. The important thing is that we delivered against Augsburg. Bayern slipped up on the opening day, but we still had to win. We did so convincingly, and that's the most important thing. What happens elsewhere is of secondary importance."

bundesliga.com: Bayern have strengthened with the loan signing of Philippe Coutinho. What do you make of the Brazilian?

Brandt: "Coutinho is an awesome player, I'm a big fan. He was fantastic at Liverpool. I think he played very well at Barcelona, too, even though he was under the microscope a bit more. He's a real boon for the Bundesliga. I'm delighted that such a player has decided to move to the Bundesliga."

bundesliga.com: How was it playing for Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park for the first time?

Brandt: "There's not much we can say about the stadium that hasn't been said already. The fans and the atmosphere are fantastic, but it's not like I've switched disciplines. It's football, and I've just continued to do exactly what I have been doing these past five years. Of course, it's a different environment. It's a lot of fun to play with the guys. It was in Leverkusen, but it's fantastic with the Dortmund boys. (Laughs) When you win 5-1, you really can't complain."

bundesliga.com: You scored your first Dortmund goal from the bench. Is the training deficit after your injury preventing you from starting?

Brandt: "I feel really good. The injury isn't causing me any bother, it's healed up. It shouldn't be an issue going forward, and shouldn't get in the way of making my first start in the coming weeks."

bundesliga.com: Does that mean you're hoping to be in the starting line-up in Cologne on Friday?

Brandt: "I don't know, but I'm putting myself forward (laughs)."