Dortmund's wish for protection curtails Karetsa's effort vs Germany
A tense silence fell over the Westfalenstadion as the 0‑0 draw between Greece and Germany began. The 18‑year‑old Konstantinos Karetsas, newly signed by Borussia Dortmund, initially had to watch the action from the sidelines before being substituted on in the second half, finally receiving his chance.
Dortmund's Wish for Protection
Borussia Dortmund had wished for less strain on Konstantinos Karetsas. According to Sky, the club had contacted the Greek side and asked for a measured use of the summer newcomer. However, national coach Ivan Jovanovic emphasized before the match against Germany that there had been no explicit request from BVB to give Karetsas a break. The wish for protection reflected the club's concern to minimise the load on the young attacking talent.
The 64‑year‑old coach made it clear that clubs could not expect special treatment of their players from him. “Since I became national coach here, there has not been a single club in Europe that has demanded a special approach from us,” Jovanovic said. With this, he wanted to maintain the balance between club interests and national duties.
Reduced Playing Time in the Half
The Dortmund professional initially received a full break before entering the field in the second half. This significantly reduced Karetsas' involvement compared to the previous Nations League matches. The decision therefore at least partially reflected BVB's wish for a reduced workload.
Before the Germany duel, the 18‑year‑old attacking player had started from the kickoff in all three of Greece’s Nations League games. The previous appearances had each given him the full 90 minutes. In contrast, he played only 45 minutes against the DFB eleven.
In a Champions League clash against Villarreal (3‑2), Karetsas suddenly fell to the ground and was taken to hospital for examination. Circulatory problems or dehydration were cited as the cause, and further tests revealed no findings. Despite the brief hospitalization, he returned quickly to training.
Since then, Karetsas has been back on the pitch regularly and has a heavy workload in the current international window. Coach and teammates emphasized that his form has been restored. After his 45‑minute stint against the DFB eleven, attention now turns again to Borussia Dortmund, which will play the Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen on Friday.
The attacking talent moved in the summer for €30 million from KRC Genk to Borussia Dortmund. In his first six competitive matches for the BVB he already provided an assist. His first assist came in a 2‑1 victory over FC Cologne.