Borussia Dortmund’s Niko Kovac explains key turning point in season | OneFootball

When Niko Kovac replaced Nuri Sahin as Borussia Dortmund head coach, die Schwarzgelben sat 11th, four points behind fourth place RB Leipzig. With just six points from a possible 18 in his first six Bundesliga games in charge, UEFA Champions League football seemed a distance away. By matchday 26, BVB fell 10 points behind the final UCL spot.

But an upturn in form again sees Dortmund just four points behind RB Leipzig as we head into the final four league games of the 2024/25 season, and a favourable fixture list means Champions League football next season is a real possibility.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ruhr Nachrichten, Kovac explained Dortmund’s development and two key moments that has changed the outlook of their season.

“We’re doing really well at the moment with the approach, ‘Let’s win the next game!’ The team is pushing hard. When you look at what we’re capable of physically and also football-wise, we’ve had some very, very good moments.”

When questioned on what those moments were, Kovac explained: “I would cite two moments in particular.

“The poor game against Augsburg (a 0-1 defeat) and the very good return game against Barcelona (a 3-1 win). After those two games, everyone saw that didn’t work on one side and what worked on the other. As a coach, I have to keep pushing the players a bit, but above all, I have to convince them of our common path.

“Today’s professionals are mature and question everything. That’s why I want to take them along, involve then, and enlist them. Since the end of March, we’ve seen a clear upward trend. We work every day to ensure that we continue this trend.”

GGFN | Daniel Pinder