Niko Kovač: Carney Chukwuemeka "sensationally good" | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund's Niko Kovač praises "sensationally good" Carney Chukwuemeka

Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovač was full of praise for Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka following a brilliant display in their 6-0 win over Union Berlin on Matchday 23.

Chukwuemeka made his Bundesliga debut as a second-half substitute against Union, the 21-year-old midfielder getting 22 minutes under his belt after a short cameo in Dortmund's UEFA Champions League knockouts play-off first leg win against Sporting Lisbon on 11 February.

Although those were Chukwuemeka's first competitive minutes of football since starting parent club Chelsea's 3-1 win over FC Astana in the UEFA Europa Conference League on 12 December 2024, Kovač has seen no sign of any rust around the gears.

"The way he takes the ball and carries it, the way he immediately turns in the direction of play, that is really unique," Dortmund's head coach said after overseeing his first Bundesliga win since taking over from Nuri Şahin on 2 February. "He has very good acceleration and technique. The boy will give us joy, if he stays healthy."

Watch: Carney Chukwuemeka on joining Dortmund

Chukwuemeka's "sensationally good" all-round display also involved contributing to the third and fourth goals in his side's dismantling of Union, and gave fans an insight into what they can expect from their January loan signing in the weeks and months ahead.

A full debut could now be on the cards when mid-table Dortmund visit relegation-threatened St. Pauli on Matchday 24, as they look to close the six-point gap to the top six. The Black-Yellows, who also have a Champions League last-16 tie with Lille to look forward to in March, have an option to buy the Austria-born talent at the end of the campaign.

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