Kovac decries schedule as Dortmund brace for early Bundesliga restart

In the empty stands of Signal Iduna Park, the echo of a halted season hangs heavy as Borussia Dortmund prepare to resume the Bundesliga on Friday night against Werder Bremen. Fans watch anxiously, aware that a three‑week international pause has left the squad thin on rhythm and fitness.

Four games, three weeks off

Vier matches have been packed into a three‑week break, creating a high workload in a short span. The extended international hiatus has forced supporters of regular league football to endure a sour apple, as the pause has stretched into an XXL break.

Kovac argues that the compressed timetable leaves little room for recovery. He warned that the lack of Zeit between fixtures erodes the team's rhythm.

He called the combination of four games and the three‑week pause definitively too much.

Mid‑November Nations League fixtures

Despite the interruption, the calendar already lists the remaining two Nations League games for mid‑November. These fixtures are part of the Nations League schedule and are set in the plan for the clubs. Because the Nations League consists of compulsory matches, there are no friendly games left for national sides to experiment during this period.

The clubs will have to release players again, adding further strain on the squad. The two remaining matches are locked into the calendar, leaving little flexibility for clubs.

Kovac's concerns and proposed solution

"From the club side it is totally unacceptable. It is not only about sick or injured – but we have over two and a half weeks with no rhythm," Kovac said at the press conference on Wednesday.

He suggested splitting the break into three blocks of two weeks, arguing that ten days away followed by a return would be a better solution. Kovac’s alternative of three two‑week blocks would give clubs ten days of rest before each return, preserving a more regular match rhythm.

He listed player issues: Konstantinos Karetsas and Daniel Svensson are slightly chilled, Mathis Albert returns from America on Thursday, and Ramy Bensebaini must travel back from Africa after playing yesterday.

The press conference took place ahead of the Friday evening home clash with Werder Bremen.

A lingering question remains over Nico Schlotterbeck’s injury, as medical staff have not confirmed the extent but have not ruled out a Friday appearance.

Kovac’s remarks underline the tension between international commitments and domestic league continuity, a dilemma that could shape the Bundesliga’s early weeks and influence how clubs manage future calendar disruptions.