Mats Hummels is enjoying the leadership role at Borussia Dortmund and wants to help Haaland and Sancho

Mats Hummels says he wants to be a role model for the exciting young Borussia Dortmund squad and believes he can help people like Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho realize their potential.

The defender is currently in his tenth season with Dortmund after rejoining the club in 2019 after a three-year spell at Bayern Munich and is one of the most experienced players in the squad.

Hummels, 31, is enjoying his new leadership role and is keen to set an example for his talented young teammates, including Haaland, Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Giovanni Reyna.

“My role is easy to describe,” said Hummels CBS Sports.

Set a good example first. Every day on the field I try to work really hard every day during training and of course in conversation with the teammates on and off the field. ‘

‘I try to do my best with my teammates. I hope to help the teammates in a good way, to get to that level.

‘Most importantly though, you have to work hard, you have to be a role model when it comes to training, for the games, because if you don’t work hard yourself, you obviously can’t tell others to do it.

Hummels has been excluded from Dortmund’s Champions League game with Club Brugge with a hamstring problem, but hopes to be fit for the top-of-the-table clash with Bayern on Saturday.

The defender instead hopes to lead from the sidelines while Haaland and Sancho continue their goal form in the competition.

The center-back believes that both players can become two of the best in the world.

Haaland, who has been linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid, has scored 24 goals in 27 appearances for Dortmund since joining the club in January.

Sancho, who was strongly linked with a switch to United in the summer, has scored 33 goals and 39 assists in the past two seasons.

“I am 100% convinced that Erling will be one of the best goalscorers for the next 15 years, there is no doubt about that,” said Hummels.

About Sancho, the defender added: ‘His assistance with goals as he did against Schalke is almost perfect. The timing at which he plays fits, the tempo at which he plays. He is very calm in front of goal when he scores himself or when he sees other players.

“If he can show this on a daily basis, he can be one of the best players in the world and that is up to him, because he does not miss many of the qualities that you need for that.”