Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has insisted that his club will launch a Champions League challenge this season despite their troubles in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund are currently in a relegation fight in the Bundesliga, with 10 defeats from their 17 league games leaving them in 17th position.

While the league remains the priority, Watzke has said that the Champions League is still important.

"The focus should clearly be on the Bundesliga now, but we do not write off the Champions League," he told Bild.

"It might make it a lot easier if we were not in the Champions League and we only needed to focus on the Bundesliga.

"But that would not only be grossly unfair to the competition, but a disaster for German football. We have a responsibility to German football."

Dortmund will face Juventus in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.