Mats Hummels has claimed that Borussia Dortmund need to loosen up in the final third if they are to find their form in the battle to avoid relegation.

Dortmund's miserable Bundesliga campaign continued with a 1-0 loss to Augsburg on Wednesday evening, and after facing jeers from the home supporters at the final whistle, Hummels believes that there needs to be a change of mentality in the final third of the pitch.

"We're always chasing games after going behind. What's missing is us taking the lead so that we can then sit back and play on the counter. We're all aware we've got to fight in these next 15 games," the German defender told reporters.

"Playing attractive football will just be a bonus - we're still expected to play great football. 98% of this is about the fight. The other two needs to be about loosening up so that we start making the right decisions in the final third."

Dortmund will look to climb off the bottom of the table when they meet Freiburg on Saturday.