Ricken: Gross has a very high basketball IQ and professionalism, and is a role model for young players

This summer window, Dortmund introduced Gross from Brighton. Dortmund senior executive Ricken recently revealed the reason for signing the 33-year-old German midfielder in an interview.

Ricken said: "Do I really agree to introduce a 33-year-old player? My answer is very clear: 'I can't make a decision based on newspaper articles or even negative comments, but I have to consider what is good for the team, the club and the coach.'"

"Gross is really great! You can look at the way he plays, as we saw in Brighton, he makes the players around him better, and he is a role model for many young players."

"Many Germans don't fully understand him. In the past seven years, he is the player with the second highest assists in the Premier League after De Bruyne. Despite this, he has not received much attention from Germans."

"Gross's professionalism is impressive, and he also has a very high football IQ. He not only plays the No. 6 position in Brighton, but sometimes also the No. 10 position, scoring many goals, and even playing right back."